BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh today after 17 years in exile
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh today after 17 years in exile, landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:40am on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from London.
Upon arrival, he received a warm reception from BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee members, as well as greetings from party activists.
Accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, daughter Zaima Rahman, and mother-in-law Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu, Tarique Rahman exchanged pleasantries and waved to supporters before stepping into a nearby garden, removing his shoes, and touching the country’s soil barefoot—a spontaneous gesture symbolizing his deep connection to Bangladesh.
He then boarded a bus to a brief public event at the 36 Expressway (300-Foot Road), arranged to allow him to express gratitude to the people and seek prayers for his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who is currently at Evercare Hospital. The event is strictly limited, with security measures, medical facilities, and traffic management in place to ensure public safety and minimize inconvenience.
Tarique Rahman’s return marks a historic moment in Bangladesh’s political history. During his 17-year exile in the UK, he led the BNP from abroad, maintaining party unity and strategic direction amid political challenges, his mother’s imprisonment, and personal hardships.
Following today’s events, he will visit Begum Khaleda Zia at Evercare Hospital, pay respects at the graves of BNP founder Shaheed Ziaur Rahman and other national martyrs, and complete his voter registration and NID process.
Supporters see his return as a new chapter for the BNP and Bangladesh’s politics, hoping it will reinvigorate democracy, civil rights, and political stability in the country.
