Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh after nearly one and a half decades in exile should be seen not as a personal or party achievement, but as a significant milestone in the country’s continued democratic struggle, said Hasnat Abdullah, chief coordinator (Southern) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), on Thursday.
In a post on his verified Facebook account in the evening, Hasnat said Tarique homecoming demonstrates that a Bangladeshi citizen and political leader’s right to return to his own soil cannot be permanently denied through state repression.
“No matter how powerful an autocratic system may appear, it can never permanently suppress the political will of the people,” he wrote.
Referring to the state persecution faced by Tarique Rahman and his family due to political dissent, which forced them into long years of exile, Hasnat described it as an open testament to the authoritarian rule of the past decade and a half.
“It is important to remember that this return has been made possible by the blood of thousands of martyrs, the sacrifices of countless injured people, and the new political reality created through a mass uprising. This reality is not one of power, but one earned through the spontaneous struggle of the people,” he said.
Hasnat said the aspiration in the post-uprising period is for a Bangladesh where dissent is not treated as a crime but recognized as a right, and where no one faces state persecution for political beliefs—instead, the state ensures protection of citizens’ rights.
In the new Bangladesh, he said, democracy should not remain confined to the boundaries of elections alone; rather, it must encompass freedom of expression, the right to organise, and a fair environment for political competition.
Breaking away from the restricted political space of the past one and a half decades, Hasnat said the country is now moving towards a freer Bangladesh, where ensuring the rule of law and political rights remains the central struggle.
He stressed that this struggle must not be limited to any individual or party, and that ensuring the re-establishment of people’s sovereignty is the responsibility of every politician.
Extending his wishes for the recovery and guidance of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Hasnat welcomed the return of Tarique Rahman to the country.
He expressed the hope that Khaleda Zia would recover soon and return to public life to provide leadership in completing the unfinished struggle against fascism.
At the same time, he said, Tarique Rahman’s participation in the movement to build a democratic Bangladesh is expected to play a role in fulfilling the people’s aspirations and the responsibility of history.
