Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to return to Bangladesh tomorrow after spending 17 years in exile in the UK. He will be departing from London’s Heathrow Airport aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 6:15 pm (London time) on Wednesday, accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. The flight is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:50 am, following a one-hour stopover at Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a press conference was held with Salahuddin Ahmed, the convener of the Tarique Rahman reception committee and a BNP Standing Committee Member. Salahuddin announced that the BNP Standing Committee will welcome Tarique Rahman at the airport. Following his arrival, he plans to visit Evercare Hospital to see his ailing mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
A brief public event is planned on the 300-Foot Road (July 36 Expressway) where Tarique Rahman will express gratitude to the people of Bangladesh. Salahuddin clarified that this event is neither a public meeting nor a formal reception but an opportunity for Tarique Rahman to thank the public and seek prayers for Begum Khaleda Zia and the citizens.
Salahuddin emphasized that Tarique Rahman does not support any program that could cause public inconvenience. Consequently, he requested expatriate leaders and supporters not to gather at the London airport and discouraged any party programs in Bangladesh that might disrupt public life. The return date was chosen on a government holiday to minimize disruption.
The BNP has made extensive arrangements, including 20 medical camps and a six-bed field hospital with an ICU ambulance, to ensure safety during the event. Help desks and motorcycle squads will be positioned to facilitate unobstructed travel for passengers and ambulances.
Salahuddin acknowledged the challenge of controlling the influx of party activists eager to see their leader after 17 years. He expressed confidence that Tarique Rahman’s return would mark a significant moment in Bangladesh’s history, potentially drawing one of the largest public gatherings the country has seen.
Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. AKM Shamsul Islam, Chief Security Officer for BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, stated that the government is cooperating fully to ensure security. A coordinated system involving government agencies and BNP personnel is planned.
The BNP has also arranged a new residence for Tarique Rahman on Gulshan Avenue and has allocated chambers for him at the BNP Chairperson’s office and the central office at Naya Paltan. A new office space in Gulshan has been rented to manage the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, where Tarique Rahman will contest from the Bogura-6 constituency.
Tarique Rahman’s return is seen as a pivotal event in Bangladesh’s political landscape. After years of exile, having left for medical treatment amidst political tensions, he now returns as a significant figure within the BNP. His leadership during his time abroad has been characterized by strategic planning and maintaining party cohesion, despite facing numerous legal challenges and personal hardships.
His return is expected to rejuvenate the BNP and potentially reshape the political dynamics in Bangladesh, fostering hopes for a renewed commitment to democracy and civil rights under his leadership.