To facilitate the arrival of BNP leaders and activists from across the nation to Dhaka for acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s return, the party has sent a letter to the railways ministry requesting reservation of special trains and carriages.
Tarique is set to return to the country on 25 December, ending his 18 years exile.
The letter, sent on Thursday by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, read, “BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman will arrive in Dhaka from the United Kingdom on 25 December.
“A large number of students and people from all over the country will come to Dhaka to welcome him. To facilitate the arrival of the party’s leaders and activists in Dhaka, the BNP wishes to reserve trains on various routes on the night of 24 December.”
The letter added that the specified fare will be paid according to government policy.
The letter requests the reservation of one special train or additional carriage each for the following routes – Cox’s Bazar-Dhaka, Sylhet-Dhaka, Jamalpur-Mymensingh-Dhaka, Tangail-Dhaka, Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi-Dhaka, Panchagarh-Nilphamari-Parbatipur-Dhaka, and Kurigram-Rangpur-Dhaka.
Tarique returning home on 25 December noon: Salahuddin
Earlier on Thursday, a BNP delegation visited Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on a field inspection to ensure security arrangements for the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
Present during the visit were BNP Standing Committee Member and Reception Committee Convener Salahuddin Ahmed, Senior Joint Secretary General and Reception Committee Member Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, and BNP Media Cell Convener Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel.
Speaking to journalists, Salahuddin Ahmed said, “Tarique Rahman is returning to the country on a regular commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. The flight is scheduled to land in Dhaka at 11:55 am. We can say it’s 12 noon.”
He said the arrangements for Tarique’s return will be historic and the public presence will be memorable.
“We want Tarique Rahman’s historic return to surpass all precedents of the past 55 years. Preparations are underway to make the day so memorable that such a historic event does not need to occur again in the next 55 years. People across the country are waiting for this day,” he added.
Informing that Tarique is returning home after a long and painful 18 years of life in exile, Salahuddin said, “There is immense enthusiasm among all the people of the country to see him, who is the safeguard of democracy in this country and who will lead Bangladesh in the days to come.”
He said, “By struggling against fascism, we have been able to liberate democracy. He has led this anti-fascist democratic political struggle for a long 16-17 years.”
In response to a question about whether Tarique would be received at the 300-feet area or elsewhere, the BNP leader said, “We are inspecting the locations. Considering that the people of Bangladesh are eager to see him and hear him speak, we are trying to make arrangements accordingly.”
He noted that public inconvenience is also being kept in mind, saying, “It is also being considered that there should be no public inconvenience. We are inspecting potential locations; once a final selection is made, it will be announced,” he added.
