After 17 years and three months in exile, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Thursday, marking one of the most significant political homecomings in recent years.
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG-202) carrying Tarique Rahman landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:45am.
He was accompanied by his wife, cardiologist Dr Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman.
At the airport’s VIP lounge, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the party’s Standing Committee welcomed him with flowers.
From the airport, Tarique Rahman travelled directly to the venue of a public reception at the July 36 Expressway—popularly known as the 300 Feet Road—in Purbachal.
He rode in a specially decorated red-and-green bus amid tight security arrangements.
After attending the reception, he went to Evercare Hospital to visit his ailing mother, BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, before proceeding to his Gulshan residence in the evening.
Journey home from London
Tarique Rahman departed London’s Heathrow Airport on Wednesday at 6:15pm local time (12:15am Bangladesh time), accompanied by his family.
At the request of BNP leaders and activists in the UK, no formal farewell program was organized at the airport.
The flight landed at Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport at 9:56am on Thursday, where the family remained on board during the stopover.
Shortly after landing, Tarique Rahman posted on Facebook: “In the skies of Bangladesh after 6,314 days!”
Later, at 10:18am, he shared another post with a smiling photograph alongside his wife, writing: “Finally in Sylhet, on the soil of Bangladesh!”
After a one-hour stopover, the aircraft departed Sylhet at 11:11am and reached Dhaka at 11:39am.
At Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, he was received by senior BNP leaders.
Phone call with the chief adviser
Immediately after landing in Dhaka, Tarique Rahman spoke by phone with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus from the airport.
During the brief conversation, he thanked the head of government for the security arrangements and other assistance provided for his return.
“On my behalf and on behalf of my family, I thank you for all the arrangements, especially for my security,” he said, according to sources present at the time.
A symbolic homecoming
Tarique Rahman exited the airport through the VIP gate at 12:35pm.
Before leaving, he stood barefoot in an adjacent garden area, picked up a handful of soil and paused briefly—a gesture that drew attention from supporters and onlookers.
Thousands of BNP leaders and activists lined both sides of the airport road, holding banners, placards and national and party flags, chanting slogans welcoming their leader.
Security was tightened in and around the airport area, with the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and other agencies deployed along the route.
His wife and daughter went directly from the airport to their residence at House No 196 on Gulshan Avenue, located next to “Firoza,” the long-time residence of Khaleda Zia.
Police, BGB and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members were deployed in the area, while traffic movement on surrounding roads was restricted.
Mass reception at 300 Feet Road
Supporters gathered in large numbers along the route from the airport to the reception venue, with crowds swelling in several places from Kuril to the 300 Feet Road.
The convoy took nearly three and a half hours to cover the roughly two-kilometre distance due to the sheer volume of people.
Tarique Rahman reached the reception stage at 3:51pm and waved to the cheering crowd.
A special chair had been placed for him on the stage, but he removed it and chose to sit on an ordinary chair before beginning his speech.
Opening with the words “Dear Bangladesh,” he said the people of the country now wanted to reclaim their democratic rights and their right to speak freely.
Drawing parallels between historical moments, he said that just as independence was achieved in 1971, people from all walks of life again came together in 2024 to protect the country’s sovereignty.
Calling for unity, he said Bangladesh belongs to people of all faiths and regions, hills and plains alike, and stressed the need to build a safe country where everyone can live without fear.
Remembering martyr Osman Hadi, he said the sacrifices of those who died in 1971 and 2024 must be honoured by building a just and democratic Bangladesh.
Referring to Martin Luther King Jr’s famous speech, Tarique Rahman said, “I have a plan,” adding that implementing it would require the collective effort of all citizens.
He also sought prayers for the recovery of his mother and concluded by saying: “Together we will work, together we will build our Bangladesh.”
Visit to Khaleda Zia
After the rally ended, Tarique Rahman left for Evercare Hospital around 4:30pm, though heavy crowds caused delays.
His wife and daughter had reached the hospital earlier, at around 5:10pm.
Tarique Rahman entered the hospital at 5:54pm and spent about an hour and a half with his mother before leaving for his Gulshan residence at 7:30pm.
He arrived there around 8:25pm.
A personal note
Among those returning with Tarique Rahman was his daughter’s pet cat, Jebu, which the family had kept with them throughout their years in exile.
BNP shared images of Jebu’s return on social media, adding a personal touch to a day marked by political symbolism.
Tarique Rahman had left Bangladesh on September 11, 2008, following his release from prison during the military-backed caretaker government.
BNP maintains that he was subjected to severe physical and mental torture during remand.
He remained in London for more than 17 years, directing party activities from abroad, before finally returning home on Thursday.
