Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), departed the VIP lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport today and boarded a pre-arranged bus, heading towards the 300-foot area in Purbachal where a grand public reception is scheduled. Several hundred thousand party supporters are awaiting his arrival, anticipating his address to the assembled crowd.
Following the rally, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who is receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara. After paying his respects, he will proceed to his residence at House No. 196 in Gulshan.
Earlier in the day, at 11:40 am on Thursday, Tarique Rahman landed in Dhaka aboard a Bangladesh Biman flight, accompanied by his wife and daughter. Stepping onto Bangladeshi soil after a 17-year absence, he was warmly received with floral garlands by his mother-in-law, Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu, while BNP senior leaders and members of the party’s standing committee extended a formal welcome.
The journey to Dhaka began with a brief stopover in Sylhet. The Bangladesh Biman flight BG-202, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, touched down at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet at 9:55 am. Following a short layover, the aircraft departed at 11:13 am for Dhaka, arriving shortly before the VIP reception.
The day marks a historic return for Tarique Rahman, whose reappearance on home soil has mobilised the party’s leadership and grassroots supporters alike. Security arrangements and logistics have been meticulously planned to accommodate the large crowds expected at Purbachal and the subsequent visits to the hospital and his Gulshan residence.
Key Timings of Tarique Rahman’s Arrival and Movements
| Time (Local) | Event | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:55 am | Flight lands | Sylhet | BG-202 (Boeing 787-9), brief layover |
| 11:13 am | Flight departs | Sylhet → Dhaka | En route to Dhaka after stopover |
| 11:40 am | Arrival in Dhaka | Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport | Welcomed by family and BNP leaders |
| 12:00 pm onwards | Public rally | Purbachal 300-ft area | Speech to several hundred thousand supporters |
| After rally | Hospital visit | Evercare Hospital, Bashundhara | Meet BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia |
| Later | Home visit | House No. 196, Gulshan | Private residence visit |
The return of Tarique Rahman after nearly two decades is being regarded as a significant political moment, drawing extensive media coverage and large gatherings of party activists across Dhaka.