Tarique Rahman Returns to Bangladesh After 17 Years, Attends Reception and Visits Ailing Mother

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after nearly 17 years in exile, marking a major political moment in the country.

He arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 11:40 a.m. aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines commercial flight (BG-202), accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and daughter Barrister Zaimah Rahman.

Earlier, the flight made a scheduled stopover at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet at 9:57 a.m., where heightened security measures were in place. BNP leaders and activists were instructed not to organize any reception there. After a brief stop, the aircraft departed for Dhaka at 11:13 a.m. Nearly 50 BNP leaders and activists also returned to Bangladesh on the same flight.

Tarique Rahman had departed London late Wednesday night after completing check-in at Heathrow Airport, where UK BNP leaders escorted him to the security perimeter before bidding farewell.

Upon arrival in Dhaka, senior BNP leaders and several distinguished personalities welcomed him at the airport’s VIP lounge with floral greetings. He was also received by his mother-in-law, Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu. A bulletproof vehicle had earlier been positioned at the airport to transport him to his scheduled programs.

From the airport, Tarique Rahman proceeded in a pre-arranged bus to a massive public reception organized at 300 Feet Road in Purbachal, on the outskirts of the capital. Since early morning, despite severe winter cold, tens of thousands of BNP leaders and supporters from across the country gathered at the venue. The area—from Kuril to the reception stage—turned into a sea of people, with slogans, banners, and chants of “The leader is coming” echoing throughout the highway.

Addressing the gathering, Tarique Rahman delivered an emotional speech, thanking party leaders, activists, and citizens for their support. He said,
“My heart, as a son, lies beside my mother’s hospital bed. But the people for whom she dedicated her life—you—cannot be left behind. That is why I wanted to express my gratitude to you all before going to the hospital.”

After concluding his speech, Tarique Rahman immediately left for Evercare Hospital in Bashundhara, where his mother and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is currently undergoing treatment. He arrived at the hospital at around 5:45 p.m., entering on foot after getting down from his vehicle at the main gate. Senior BNP leaders accompanied him. His wife and daughter had arrived at the hospital shortly before him.

Following the visit, Tarique Rahman departed Evercare Hospital at approximately 7:30 p.m. and proceeded to his residence at House No. 196, Gulshan, where he is expected to stay.

Tarique Rahman’s return and day-long activities generated widespread attention across the country, with political observers describing the event as a significant development in Bangladesh’s political landscape.