BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday paid solemn homage to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and offered prayers at the grave of his father, former President Ziaur Rahman, for the first time in 18 years.
He visited the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar at around 10pm, where he stood in solemn silence beneath the night sky to honour the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
The journey to the memorial, which took around five hours from his father’s grave in Dhaka, unfolded amid waves of supporters lining the roads, waving flags and chanting his name, with long traffic jams doing little to dampen the charged atmosphere among BNP supporters.
After paying his respects, addressing everyone present, including the law enforcement agencies, Tarique said, “It took time to come through the ocean of people on the roads. People have waited for so long. I express my gratitude to them.”
BNP media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan said the memorial had been prepared for Tarique Rahman’s visit, with tightened security and restricted access underscoring the solemnity of the occasion.
He said the complex and its lake were carefully cleaned on Thursday, while more than a thousand police personnel were deployed to ensure a dignified and safe environment.
Earlier on Friday, Tarique Rahman visited his father’s grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar after 18 long years. Arriving at 4:30 pm, he knelt in prayer, silently invoking blessings for his ailing mother, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members and other central leaders shared the quiet, deeply personal moment, witnessing a rare glimpse of human vulnerability amid political life.
Earlier in the day, Tarique left his Gulshan residence at 2:20 pm in a specially secured red-and-green bus named “Shobar Aage Bangladesh,” greeted by thousands of cheering supporters waving flags, banners and posters. “One Zia in the afterlife, millions of Zias in every home; Tarique Rahman returns to Bangladesh in a hero’s guise,” chanted the crowd.
Mirza Fakhrul told reporters that Tarique’s leadership would guide Bangladesh toward democracy, justice and inclusivity.
After paying tribute to his father’s mausoleum, Tarique travelled to the National Martyrs’ Memorial, honouring the freedom fighters whose sacrifices shaped the nation. Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were stationed along the Dhaka–Aricha Highway to ensure security.
On Thursday, Tarique Rahman had an emotional reunion with his ailing mother at Evercare Hospital following a grand reception at Purbachal. Arriving at 5:55pm with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman, he spent nearly two hours by her side, visibly moved, before leaving the hospital at 7:35pm.
Tarique returned from London on Thursday after 17 years in exile, greeted by jubilant supporters from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to the July 36 Expressway. At a grand public reception, he spoke passionately about his vision for Bangladesh, reaffirming his lifelong commitment to building a nation that honours its heroes and fulfils the dreams of its people.
