Dhaka, May 7 -- After 17 years in exile, Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, has returned to Bangladesh, reigniting speculation over her potential political role within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Her arrival comes at a critical time for the party, with Tarique Rahman still residing in London and party Chairperson Khaleda Zia's health not yet fully restored, though there is optimism about her recovery.

Dr Zubaida's dignified return, supported by her strong academic and professional background, has prompted many within BNP circles to view her as a potential new standard-bearer of the Zia family legacy.

Despite never having been involved in frontline politics, her endurance in the face of legal and ...