Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned from nearly 17 years in exile yesterday, a homecoming the party hopes will energise supporters with Rahman poised to be the top contender for prime minister in February.
Hundreds of thousands of supporters lined the route from Dhaka’s airport to a reception venue, waving party flags and carrying placards, banners and flowers, as senior BNP leaders received Rahman at the airport under tight security.
Rahman, 60, the son of ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has lived in London since 2008 and led the BNP as acting chairman since 2018.
His return comes as Bangladesh enters a sensitive election period under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The vote is seen as crucial to restoring political stability after nearly two years of turmoil.
While authorities have pledged a free and peaceful election, recent attacks on media outlets and sporadic violence have raised concerns, making Rahman’s homecoming a defining moment for the BNP and the country’s fragile political transition.
Dressed in a light grey, finely chequered blazer over a white shirt, Rahman exited the airport, removed his shoes to step barefoot onto Bangladeshi soil, and picked up a handful of earth in a symbolic gesture of homecoming.
Addressing cheering crowds at the reception centre, Rahman began his speech with the words, ‘Beloved Bangladesh’, pledging to unite people of all faiths and ensure their safety.
“We will build a Bangladesh that a mother dreams of,” he said, urging Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians to join him in creating an inclusive nation.
Rahman was convicted in absentia on charges that included money laundering.
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