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Summary:

Tarique Rahman, son of former Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is returning to Bangladesh after 17 years of self-imposed exile in London. He is traveling with his wife and daughter. His return follows the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and comes at a time of political transition under an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, with parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12. Rahman’s BNP is expected to do well in the elections. His return is motivated by both political opportunities and his mother’s illness. The BNP plans a massive rally to welcome him. His arrival is seen as significant for the upcoming elections and Bangladesh’s political stability. He had been acquitted of all charges after Hasina’s removal, clearing the legal barriers that had delayed his return.

News Article:

Tarique Rahman Returns to Bangladesh After 17 Years in Exile; BNP Plans Massive Welcome Rally

Dhaka, Bangladesh – Tarique Rahman, the son of former Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has arrived in Bangladesh after nearly 17 years of self-imposed exile in London. Rahman, accompanied by his wife and daughter, departed from London’s Heathrow Airport, with images of their departure quickly circulating on social media.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is planning a massive welcome rally, aiming to mobilize up to five million supporters from Dhaka Airport to the reception venue. The rally is designed to showcase the party’s strength as Rahman emerges as a leading contender for Prime Minister in the upcoming February 12 parliamentary elections.

Rahman’s return follows the ouster of his party’s political rival, Sheikh Hasina, after student-led uprisings last year. He had been living in London since 2008. His return now marks a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s political landscape, as it enters a sensitive election period under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The vote is widely viewed as crucial to restoring political stability.

According to a survey by the US-based International Republican Institute, the BNP is expected to win the largest number of parliamentary seats in the upcoming vote.

Rahman’s decision to return is driven by both the changing political landscape and concerns for his mother’s health. He has also been acquitted of all charges after Hasina’s removal, clearing the legal barriers that had delayed his return.

“This will be a defining political moment,” said senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Security arrangements are being closely coordinated with authorities to ensure order.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), which emerged from the youth protest movement that toppled Hasina, views Rahman’s return positively. “Tarique Rahman was forced into exile under severe pressure and threats, so his homecoming carries symbolic weight,” said Khan Muhammad Mursalin, an NCP spokesperson.

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