Strife-hit Bangladesh is set to witness a significant political moment today with the return of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman from London after a 17-year exile. Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is arriving at a time of deep political uncertainty, heightened security concerns, and escalating street tensions ahead of the country’s upcoming general elections.
Rahman left Bangladesh in 2007 after being arrested during the military-backed caretaker government’s anti-graft drive. Following his release from jail, he travelled to London for medical treatment and has remained there since. In 2016, after Khaleda Zia was sentenced in corruption cases, Rahman was appointed acting chairman of the BNP while still residing abroad, effectively steering the party’s political direction from exile.
His return comes amid reports that Khaleda Zia’s health condition has deteriorated sharply. The three-time former prime minister is currently hospitalised, and her condition is described as critical. Party sources say Rahman is expected to visit his ailing mother after completing formal reception events planned for his arrival.
According to the schedule, Tarique Rahman will land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:55 am local time, accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Zaima Rahman. From the airport, he is expected to proceed directly to a designated reception programme organised by the BNP, which has planned a massive public mobilisation to welcome its top leader. Party leaders have claimed that millions of supporters could turn up for the event, underlining Rahman’s continued influence within the opposition ranks.
Anticipating large crowds and possible unrest, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has directed security agencies to tighten safety arrangements across Dhaka and other sensitive areas. Authorities are on high alert, given the fragile law-and-order situation prevailing in the country over the past weeks.
Rahman’s return is politically significant as he is widely seen as the BNP’s leading contender for the post of prime minister in the February general elections. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has earlier stated that if the party comes to power, Khaleda Zia would assume office again provided her health permits. If she is unable to do so, Tarique Rahman would be nominated to lead the government.
The political atmosphere has been further inflamed by recent violence. On December 12, Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, a 32-year-old BNP youth leader, was critically injured when unknown gunmen attacked him during a political outreach programme in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. He was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries, triggering widespread anger and unrest.
Hadi’s death sparked clashes, vandalism, and protests in multiple parts of Bangladesh, exacerbating the already volatile situation. During the unrest, some Bangladeshi media outlets circulated unverified reports claiming that the suspected attacker had fled to India. Although lacking official confirmation, these claims further strained the sensitive diplomatic relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
Against this backdrop of violence, political uncertainty, and public mobilisation, Tarique Rahman’s homecoming is being closely watched both domestically and internationally. His return not only marks the end of a long exile but also signals a potentially decisive phase in Bangladesh’s opposition politics as the nation moves toward crucial elections.
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