After more than fifteen years abroad, Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to return to Bangladesh. He is scheduled to depart from London on Wednesday evening (24 December, UK time) and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, is expected to land in Dhaka around noon on Thursday (25 December). Accompanying him will be his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman.
BNP has reportedly undertaken extensive preparations across the capital in anticipation of his return. According to party sources, a large-scale public reception, described as one of the most significant in recent memory, will be organised to welcome him. Upon arrival, Tarique Rahman will proceed directly from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to the eastern Kuril segment of the Purbachal Highway Expressway, where the reception ceremony will take place.
Party leaders have expressed optimism that the event will attract a massive turnout of supporters from across the country. They believe that, in terms of participation, the reception may surpass all previous political gatherings and celebrations in Bangladesh. Both senior party figures and ordinary citizens are expected to attend, reflecting a combination of organised and spontaneous support.
Security measures have been heightened around the airport and the reception venue to ensure public safety and maintain law and order. Law enforcement agencies, in coordination with BNP volunteers, are overseeing arrangements to ensure the event proceeds smoothly. The BNP has also secured formal approval from the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s office to host the ceremony, with stage construction and other logistical preparations nearing completion. Party leadership has conducted multiple site inspections to monitor progress.
Tarique Rahman was released from prison in 2008 during the One-Eleven caretaker government and subsequently moved to the United Kingdom with his family. Although Dr. Zubaida Rahman has visited Bangladesh multiple times since then, Tarique Rahman’s return had long been delayed. His homecoming, finally imminent after years of anticipation, has already sparked intense discussion in the national political arena.