Tarique Rahman returns home after 17 years
On arrival, Tarique Rahman exited Dhaka airport, removed his shoes to step barefoot onto Bangladeshi soil and picked up a handful of earth in a symbolic gesture marking his return home.
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh this morning (25 December) after 17 years in exile abroad.
Afterwards, he headed to a reception rally in the 300 Feet Road area in Purbachal, where party leaders and supporters gathered to welcome him.
Previously, the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Tarique back home landed in Dhaka this morning after initially touching down at Sylhet airport earlier in the day.
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Before landing in Sylhet, Tarique shared a photo of himself gazing out of an aircraft window, captioned, "Back in Bangladesh's skies after a long 6,314 days!"
This marks the BNP leader's return to Bangladesh from London for the first time after more than 17 years in exile. His wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Zaima Rahman also accompanied him.
After disembarking, Tarique was welcomed at the airport by senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with several members of his family.
At the time, Zubaida's mother welcomed him by placing a floral garland around his neck.
Dressed in a light grey, finely checkered blazer over a crisp white shirt, the BNP leader exited the airport, removed his shoes to step barefoot onto Bangladeshi soil and picked up a handful of earth in a symbolic gesture marking his return home.
He was seen standing beside the driver's seat in a bus taking him to the reception venue, smiling and waving as crowds surged to catch a glimpse of their returning leader.
The bus bears the slogan "Bangladesh First" on its front and had been kept ready in front of the VIP terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The 60-year-old son of ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia had lived in London since 2008 and led the BNP as acting chairman since 2018.
He had been unable to return while facing multiple criminal cases at home.
Tarique was convicted in absentia on charges that included money laundering and in a case linked to an alleged plot to assassinate former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The rulings were overturned after Hasina was ousted last year in a student-led uprising, clearing the legal barriers to his return.
Flight details
Live tracking from FlightAware shows his flight entered Bangladesh skies earlier in the day.
It departed Heathrow Airport at 12:17am today (Bangladesh time).
Earlier, Tarique and his family entered the airport at around 4pm local time (around 10pm Bangladesh time) yesterday, according to the live broadcast of several media outlets.
- Flight number: BBC202 / BG202 (Biman Bangladesh Airlines)
- Route: London Heathrow (LHR) → Sylhet (ZYL) → Dhaka (DAC)
- Aircraft type: Boeing 787
- Scheduled arrival (Dhaka): Around 11:45am today (local time)
Who was on the flight
Tarique travelled with close family members, including his wife and their daughter. Tarique's late brother Arafat Rahman Koko's two daughters Jahia Rahman and Jafia Rahman as well as journalist Saleh Shibli and a few of his personal aides were also on board the flight.
Zaima Rahman's pet cat, Jebu, also travelled to Bangladesh with the family.
Tarique returned to Bangladesh for the first time since going into exile in London in 2008. His arrival marks a significant political moment ahead of the 12 February general election and comes after legal hurdles were cleared.
300 Feet crowd
BNP leaders and supporters have prepared large welcome arrangements in Dhaka, with heightened security measures across the capital.
Crowds had been growing since yesterday at the rally venue in Purbachal.
Today, the area turned into a sea of people with BNP leaders and activists having arrived from all corners of the country.
Engagements over three days
Tarique already has a packed three-day schedule combining personal engagements, political activities and commemorative visits.
According to his adviser Mahdi Amin and interim government officials, strict security and protocol arrangements will be enforced immediately after the aircraft's landing.
After landing in Dhaka, Tarique's top priority will be to visit his ailing mother, former prime minister BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital.
However, considering the expected presence of a large number of party leaders, activists and supporters eager to welcome him back home, Tarique will briefly attend the 300 Feet rally on the way to the hospital. Only Tarique will address the gathering.
Afterwards, Tarique will proceed directly to Evercare Hospital to see his mother and later go to his residence in Gulshan, which he left behind one and a half decades ago.
Tomorrow, after Jummah prayers, Tarique will visit the grave of his late father, former president Ziaur Rahman, to pay his respects, according to the itinerary – which may change depending on the situation – provided by the BNP.
Then he will go to the National Memorial in Savar to pay tribute to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.
On the third day of his schedule, Saturday (27 December), Tarique will visit the grave of Sharif Osman bin Hadi, a youth leader of the July Uprising and the Inqilab Mancha spokesperson, who was shot and killed earlier this month.
He will then go to the Election Commission to submit his voter registration application.
Later in the day, he is expected to visit injured protesters of last year's July Uprising at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor), commonly known as Pongu Hospital.
