Dhaka, Jan. 3 -- The final curtain has fallen on a major chapter of Bangladeshi politics with the passing of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, making the ascension of her eldest son, Tarique Rahman, a foregone conclusion.

Having returned home after more than 17 years of exile in London, the question now looms large: can Tarique's leadership mettle bridge the immense void left by his mother?

Tarique first stepped into the political limelight during the BNP-led government in 2001, focusing his efforts on building a robust bridge with the party's grassroots.

His trajectory was interrupted by the 2007 military-controlled caretaker government, which saw him incarcerated and later hospitalised before he left the country for London in 2008.

While...