Wed Dec 24 18:36:07 UTC 2025: News Article:

Bangladesh Opposition Party Prepares Massive Rally for Leader’s Homecoming

Dhaka, Bangladesh – The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is gearing up for a massive rally in Dhaka to welcome back its leader, Tarique Rahman, after nearly 17 years in exile. The party aims to mobilize up to five million supporters on Thursday for what they are calling an “unprecedented” show of force.

Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the BNP’s acting chairman, is widely seen as the party’s prime ministerial frontrunner for the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for February. His return comes as the BNP gains momentum following the removal of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising last year.

While BNP leaders are coordinating security with authorities, the homecoming unfolds during a fragile transition overseen by an interim government, raising concerns about sporadic violence and attacks on media outlets and capacity to ensure a credible vote.

Rahman, who has been living in London since 2008, faced criminal convictions in Bangladesh, including money laundering and charges linked to an alleged assassination plot against Hasina. However, the courts acquitted him following Hasina’s removal from office.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), which emerged from the youth protest movement that toppled Hasina, welcomed Rahman’s return. A spokesman said, “On the path to democracy, we will stand with him.”

The February 12 election is viewed as a crucial test for Bangladesh’s ability to restore democratic legitimacy after years of political turmoil.

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