After 17 years and three months in exile in the United Kingdom, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman is set to return home on Thursday.
His flight departed from London’s Heathrow Airport bound for Dhaka at 6:36pm local time on Wednesday (12:36am Bangladesh time). The plane is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 11:45am. He is accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and his daughter Zaima Rahman.
In his Facebook post on Thursday morning, Tarique Rahman said, “Fera (return).”
Zaima also posted on her Facebook page, saying: “On the Way Back to My Motherland, Bangladesh.”
According to airline sources, Tarique Rahman is traveling on flight BG-202 aboard a Boeing Dreamliner 787-900 aircraft. The route is London Heathrow–Sylhet–Dhaka. Due to the presence of a high-profile passenger, special coordination and security measures have been ensured for the operation of the flight. Tarique Rahman has been specially allocated seat A1.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, local time, Tarique Rahman left his London residence for Heathrow Airport accompanied by his wife and daughter.
As per schedule, the first landing will be in Sylhet at 9:55am. After about an hour of ground turnaround, the flight will depart Sylhet at 10:55am. for Dhaka. Finally, it is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:45am.
Meanwhile, BNP is in a festive mood over the acting chairman’s homecoming. The party has completed all preparations for an unprecedented public reception. Since Wednesday, streams of people have been heading toward Dhaka to witness this historic homecoming moment. The capital’s July 36 Expressway area was already filled with supporters the previous day. Security measures there have been intensified.
Leaders and activists are thronging to the venue in processions holding party and national flags from Wednesday morning. Defying the winter cold, they stayed overnight, saying that the acting chairman’s presence will lead BNP to victory in the upcoming national election.
The reception stage is also ready. The entire 300-foot area is covered with banners and festoons.
