Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to return to Bangladesh tomorrow after spending 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom. He will be departing from London’s Heathrow Airport, accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman, on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight scheduled to leave at 6:15 pm London time, with their arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka expected at 11:50 am following a stopover at Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Salahuddin Ahmed, the convener of the Tarique Rahman reception committee and BNP Standing Committee Member, announced at a press conference that BNP Standing Committee members will welcome Tarique Rahman at the airport. Following his arrival, Rahman plans to visit Evercare Hospital to be with his ailing mother, Begum Khaleda Zia, the former Prime Minister. On his way to the hospital, a brief public event is organized at the July 36 Expressway (300-Foot Road), where he will express gratitude to the people and seek prayers for Begum Khaleda Zia.
Salahuddin Ahmed emphasized that the event is not a public meeting or formal reception but a gesture of gratitude. He mentioned that Tarique Rahman has asked expatriate leaders and supporters not to gather at Heathrow Airport and has instructed against any party activities in Bangladesh that might cause public inconvenience. To minimize disruption, Rahman chose a government holiday for his return, and a brief event has been arranged on a less crowded road.
The BNP has made arrangements to ensure public convenience during the event, including setting up 20 medical camps, a six-bed field hospital, and help desks at key locations. Despite efforts to manage the crowd, Salahuddin acknowledged the difficulty in limiting the influx of supporters eager to see Rahman after 17 years, predicting that tomorrow’s event could be the largest public gathering in Bangladesh’s history.
Brigadier General (Retd) Dr. AKM Shamsul Islam, Chief Security Officer of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, stated that the government is cooperating to ensure security, coordinating efforts between government agencies and party officials.
Tarique Rahman will stay at a newly prepared house on Gulshan Avenue, adjacent to Begum Khaleda Zia’s residence. He plans to visit the grave of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar, and complete his NID card and voter registration process shortly after his return. A new office space has been rented for managing the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, where Rahman will conduct party activities and contest from the Bogura-6 constituency.
Rahman’s political journey has been marked by controversies, lawsuits, and exile following his arrest during the 1/11 government. Released on bail in 2008, he went to London for treatment and has remained in exile since. Despite the challenges, Rahman has been actively engaged in the movement to restore democracy in Bangladesh, becoming a central figure in the BNP from afar.
His return signifies a significant moment in Bangladesh’s political history, generating hope among BNP leaders, activists, supporters, and citizens. Many believe that under his leadership, democracy and civil rights will be restored, leading to a new chapter of political stability in the country.