BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh from London on Thursday with his wife Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman and pet cat Zeebu after more than 17 years in exile. His homecoming drew massive crowds of supporters, who lined streets across Dhaka to welcome the family.
The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying the family landed at Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport before proceeding to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, where it touched down around 11.42 am, airport officials confirmed.
Soon after landing, Rahman shared a photograph on his Facebook account with the caption, “Back in Bangladesh skies after 6,314 days!”
At the airport, BNP Standing Committee members received Rahman and his family before he departed for a public reception. Several visuals surfaced as supporters shared images and videos of celebrations.
Supporters call return ‘Eid-like’ moment
Supporters from across the country began gathering in Dhaka from midnight, many walking long distances to reach the reception venue near the 300 Feet Road in Purbachal.
“Today feels like Eid for us,” said Toyeb Ali Babu, an upazila BNP leader from Nilphamari, who travelled overnight to attend the programme.
Sixty-year-old Ruhul Amin, who arrived from Mymensingh early in the morning, said he had endured the cold and long hours just to see the BNP leader. “For 17 years, I have only seen him on a screen. Seeing him return today is a moment of joy for us,” he said.
Parveen Akter, a ward-level BNP leader from Dhaka’s Shyampur area, said around 500 women activists from her locality had joined the gathering. “We wanted to be part of this historic day,” she said.
Another supporter, Kawsar from Dinajpur, described the return as deeply emotional. “To see our leader in person after so many years feels like a dream coming true,” he said.
Rahman returned with his immediate family, along with two close aides, Abdur Rahman Suny and Kamal Uddin.
Mass reception planned amid tight security
Rahman travelled in a bulletproof vehicle chosen over central locations to minimise disruption to city traffic. Party leaders and activists lined up to greet him, the Daily Star reported.
Rahman will also address the gathering, while senior BNP leaders and representatives of allied political groups will be present on the stage. The party estimates that up to 50 lakh people may gather across Dhaka through the day.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has implemented multi-layered security arrangements, while the BNP’s own security units, including the Chairperson’s Security Force, have also been deployed. Overall responsibility for Rahman’s security has been assigned to AKM Shamsul Islam.
City-wide arrangements for supporters
The BNP has installed nearly 1,000 loudspeakers across key areas including the airport, Purbachal, Banani, Mohakhali and Abdullahpur to broadcast Rahman’s speech. Thirty large LED screens have been set up across the capital, along with hundreds of posters and billboards.
To manage the crowds, the party has arranged medical camps, mobile toilets, drinking water facilities and a temporary field hospital near the venue. Separate bus parking zones and help desks have been created to ease traffic movement, particularly for ambulances and international travellers.
After addressing supporters, Rahman is expected to visit Evercare Hospital to see his ailing mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who has been undergoing treatment there for over a month. He will then proceed to the family residence, Firoza, in Gulshan-2.
Political journey and significance of return
Rahman, the elder son of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, left Bangladesh in 2008 following his arrest during the 1/11 government and later moved to London for medical treatment. During the previous Awami League government, he was convicted in absentia in several cases, all of which have since been dropped.
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He has served as BNP’s acting chairman since 2018 while living abroad. His return comes ahead of parliamentary elections expected next year and is widely seen as strengthening the BNP’s position during a period of political transition under the interim government.