The tales that made the man with the plan

For years, the image of Tarique Rahman in London was one of quiet contemplation — a man of leafy Richmond Park strolls, history books, and introverted study. But according to a revealing new interview with TIME, the BNP chairperson might have been spending his downtime preparing for a role that requires a bit more… "oomph". 

It turns out that when Rahman isn't pondering policy, he is channel-hopping between high-octane '90s thrillers and superhero origin stories.

The 'Marshall' plan

Rahman's favourite film, he reveals, is the 1997 action classic 'Air Force One'. Most people have seen it once or twice, but Rahman has clocked it at least eight times. 

For the uninitiated, the film features Harrison Ford as President James Marshall, a leader who doesn't just sign bills into law but physically fights off hijackers to reclaim his plane.

One can almost see the parallels. As Marshall famously snarls, "Get off my plane!" before ejecting a villain into the stratosphere, one wonders if Rahman envisions a similar "clearing of the decks" now that he has returned to Dhaka. 

If politics is a battle for the cockpit of the nation, Rahman is clearly studying the tactics of Hollywood's most proactive fictional President. To watch a film eight times suggests more than just a passing interest; it suggests a man looking for a blueprint, or, if we're being cheeky, looking for a "plan".

A Marvel-ous manifesto

However, the most eyebrow-raising moment of the interview wasn't his penchant for '90s cargo-plane combat, but his choice of political mantra. Eschewing the dry prose of political theorists, Rahman reached for the stars — or at least, the streets of Queens, New York.

"With great power comes great responsibility," Rahman told TIME, attesting the line to his expected role as the future leader of the country. "I very much believe that."

While the sentiment is noble, pop culture vultures were quick to point out that this, of course, is the iconic parting wisdom of Uncle Ben to a young Peter Parker in Spider-Man.

In the film, Uncle Ben warns, "Remember, with great power comes great responsibility." It is the catalyst that turns a shy, introverted student into a masked crusader for justice. 

The alignment is almost too perfect: the "soft-spoken and introverted" man from Richmond Park finds himself on the verge of inheriting a mantle of immense power, quoting the very line that defines the transition from civilian to hero.

Is Rahman Bangladesh's answer to Peter Parker? Or is he aiming for the grit of President Marshall? Either way, the TIME interview paints a picture of a man who views leadership through a cinematic lens.

Whether he's dodging political webs or preparing to reclaim the "plane" of state, one thing is certain: If Tarique Rahman does take the top job, the script is already written.