Tarique Rahman Returns to Bangladesh Today

After more than fifteen years in exile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to return to Bangladesh, marking a politically significant moment for the country’s opposition landscape. According to party sources, Rahman is scheduled to depart London on Wednesday evening, 24 December (UK time), and, if all arrangements proceed as planned, will arrive in Dhaka around midday on Thursday, 25 December.

Rahman will be accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman. His arrival is expected at approximately 11:45am at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where heightened security measures have already been put in place. Law enforcement agencies have reportedly taken special precautions to ensure public safety and to maintain order amid the anticipated large gathering.

The BNP has made extensive preparations in Dhaka to welcome its senior leader. Party officials describe the reception as one of the largest mass gatherings in recent political memory. From the airport, Tarique Rahman is expected to proceed directly to the Purbachal Highway Express area near Kuril, where a grand public reception will be held in his honour.

BNP leaders believe the event could surpass previous political rallies in terms of participation, with supporters expected to travel from across the country. Alongside party leaders and activists, the BNP is also anticipating spontaneous participation from ordinary citizens, reflecting what the party views as widespread public interest in Rahman’s return.

Organisational preparations are nearing completion. The BNP has obtained formal permission from the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s Office to hold the event. Stage construction and logistical arrangements are almost complete, while senior party leaders have conducted multiple visits to the venue to oversee progress. Party volunteers are also working alongside authorities to ensure the programme is conducted in a disciplined and orderly manner.

Tarique Rahman left Bangladesh in 2008 during the period of the military-backed caretaker government, commonly referred to as the “One-Eleven” era, after being released from prison. He subsequently settled in the United Kingdom, where he has remained for more than a decade. Although Dr Zubaida Rahman has visited Bangladesh on several occasions over the years, Tarique Rahman himself had been unable to return until now.

His long-anticipated homecoming is widely seen as a development of considerable political importance. Analysts suggest that Rahman’s return could reshape internal party dynamics and influence the broader opposition strategy in the months ahead, adding renewed momentum to political discourse nationwide.

Key Details at a Glance

After years of anticipation, Tarique Rahman’s return is poised to become a defining political moment, drawing national attention and potentially signalling a new chapter in Bangladesh’s opposition politics.