Tarique Rahman, the BNP acting chairman, is set to return home on Thursday, ending more than a decade and a half in exile.
According to party officials, Tarique will arrive in Dhaka on Thursday at around noon after departing from London’s Heathrow Airport. His return has generated widespread enthusiasm among BNP leaders and activists across the country, with large crowds expected to gather along his route from the airport.
BNP sources said Tarique will be taken from the airport to the 300 Feet area in Purbachal, where a reception programme has been arranged. He is then expected to visit Evercare Hospital, where his mother and former prime minister Khaleda Zia is undergoing treatment. Later that night, he will stay at his residence on Gulshan Avenue. On Friday, he is scheduled to pay tribute at the grave of his father, Ziaur Rahman, the BNP founder and former president.
The party has undertaken extensive preparations for Tarique’s return, including security arrangements along the airport route and at key locations. BNP Chairperson Security Force (CSF) has been reinforced, and its structure reorganised. Retired Brigadier General AKM Shamsul Islam has been appointed as chief security officer to oversee overall security for both Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.
The interim government has also assured security coverage. Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said that adequate security arrangements would be in place upon Tarique’s return, adding that there would be no shortage of protection.
To coordinate the reception programme, BNP has formed a committee with standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi serving as member secretaries. Various BNP-affiliated organisations, including Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, Sramik Dal, Krishak Dal, Mohila Dal,Swechchhasebak Dal, Tanti Dal and Matsyajibi Dal, as well as local party units, have been making preparations. Rallies and processions have already been held in different parts of the country.
Party leaders said roads from the airport through Banani, Gulshan, Bashundhara and the 300 Feet area have been decorated with banners, festoons and party colours. BNP activists from across the country have begun arriving in Dhaka, with the party estimating that the capital could see a massive influx of supporters. BNP previously announced that all party activists would reach Dhaka by the night of 24 December.
Standing committee member Mirza Abbas said a “historic reception” would be held at the 300 Feet area, adding that millions of party supporters were expected to line both sides of the road from the airport to welcome the top leader of the party. The Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office has granted permission for the event, he said.
Rizvi stated that Tarique’s return would formally mark the end of more than 17 years of exile following what he described as years of repression. He claimed that more than five million people could gather along the route on the day of arrival.
To facilitate travel for party supporters, Bangladesh Railway has arranged special trains on 10 routes on the night of 24 December at BNP’s request. These include routes linking Dhaka with Cox’s Bazar, Jamalpur, Tangail, Bhairab Bazar, Gazipur, Panchagarh, Khulna, Rajshahi and Jashore. Additional coaches will also be added to regular services based on demand.
Tarique, the elder son of Khaleda Zia, was arrested by a joint forces operation on 7 March 2007 during the period of emergency known as “One-Eleven”. He was released on bail on 3 September 2008 and left for London with his family for medical treatment later that month.
Following the student-led mass uprising on 5 August 2024 that led to the ouster of the Awami League government, the interim administration announced a timetable for the 13th parliamentary elections, scheduled for 12 February. BNP leaders say Tarique’s return comes ahead of the polls and is expected to have significant political implications.
