BNP seeks special trains on 7 routes to bring supporters to Dhaka for Tarique's homecoming
The proposed routes are Cox’s Bazar-Dhaka, Sylhet-Dhaka, Jamalpur-Mymensingh-Dhaka, Tangail-Dhaka, Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi-Dhaka, Panchagarh-Nilphamari-Parbatipur-Dhaka, and Kurigram-Rangpur-Dhaka.
The BNP has applied for special trains on seven routes to facilitate the travel of party leaders and activists to Dhaka ahead of the return of its acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, who is set to return to Bangladesh on 25 December after nearly 18 years in exile in London.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi submitted an application to the Ministry of Railways today (18 December).
According to the application, a large number of party leaders, activists and supporters from across the country are expected to travel to Dhaka to accord a reception to Tarique Rahman upon his return from the United Kingdom.
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To ease their movement, the BNP expressed its intention to reserve trains on different routes on the night of 24 December, in line with government regulations and by paying the required fares.
The proposed routes are Cox's Bazar-Dhaka, Sylhet-Dhaka, Jamalpur-Mymensingh-Dhaka, Tangail-Dhaka, Chapainawabganj-Rajshahi-Dhaka, Panchagarh-Nilphamari-Parbatipur-Dhaka, and Kurigram-Rangpur-Dhaka.
The party requested permission to operate one special train or reserve additional coaches on each of these routes.
Earlier, on 12 December, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced that Tarique Rahman would return to Bangladesh on 25 December.
Meanwhile, the BNP said it has completed preparations for Tarique Rahman's residence and offices ahead of his return.
Speaking at a discussion organised by the BNP's London chapter in the UK on Wednesday, Tarique Rahman also confirmed his plan to return home on the scheduled date and sought prayers from party leaders and supporters ahead of his homecoming after nearly 18 years in the UK.
