Tarique Rahman Returns to Bangladesh After 17 Years: A New Chapter in Politics?

Tarique Rahman's Homecoming

Dhaka: Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to arrive in Dhaka on Thursday, marking the end of his 17-year self-imposed exile in the UK.

At 60 years old, Rahman, who is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is positioning himself as a key candidate for the prime ministerial role in the upcoming general elections scheduled for February.

Rahman, who has been a prominent figure in the BNP and hails from the influential Zia family, has departed London with his family, bringing an end to a long wait for BNP supporters, as reported by BDnews24.

He boarded a Biman Bangladesh flight at 12:15 AM local time on Thursday, accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman.

The flight landed at Sylhet Osmani Airport at 9:59 AM, and is expected to reach Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport by 11:20 AM, according to the Dhaka Tribune.

Hafiz Ahmed, the director of Sylhet Osmani Airport, confirmed these details to the Dhaka Tribune.

Upon his arrival, Rahman shared a photo on his official Facebook page, captioning it, 'Back in Bangladesh skies after 6,314 days!'

BNP leaders and supporters from the UK unit were present at the airport to bid him farewell until the security checkpoint.

BNP spokesman Ruhul Kabir Rizvi described Rahman's return as a significant political event, noting his status as the elder son of Zia.

The BNP has organized extensive plans to welcome their acting chairman, with party Standing Committee members ready to greet him at the airport, followed by a reception.

After landing, Rahman will head to Evercare Hospital, stopping briefly for a reception arranged by the party.

His return is particularly noteworthy as the BNP has gained momentum in the political arena following the ousting of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina during a student-led uprising known as the July Uprising on August 5, 2024.

The BNP's former coalition partner, Jamaat-e-Islami, along with its Islamist allies, has emerged as the main opposition in the current political climate, especially after the interim government dissolved the Awami League under the stringent Anti-Terrorism Act.

The announcement of Rahman's return on December 12 sparked widespread speculation, especially after he expressed a desire to be near his critically ill mother during her 'moment of crisis' in a Facebook post on November 29.