Sea of people: Supporters welcoming Tarique as he waves to them from inside a bus after his arrival in Dhaka. — AFP
Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned from nearly 17 years in exile, a homecoming the party hopes will energise supporters with Tarique poised to be the top contender for prime minister in February.
Hundreds of thousands of supporters lined the route from Dhaka’s airport to a reception venue, waving party flags and carrying placards, banners and flowers, as senior BNP leaders received Tarique at the airport under tight security on Thursday.
Tarique, 60, the son of ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has lived in London since 2008 and led the BNP as acting chairman since 2018.
His return comes as Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation of nearly 175 million people, enters a sensitive election period under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The vote is seen as crucial to restoring political stability after nearly two years of turmoil.
While authorities have pledged a free and peaceful election, recent attacks on media outlets and sporadic violence have raised concerns, making Tarique’s homecoming a defining moment for the BNP and the country’s fragile political transition.
Dressed in a light grey, finely checkered blazer over a white shirt, Tarique exited the airport, removed his shoes to step barefoot onto Bangladeshi soil and picked up a handful of earth in a symbolic gesture of homecoming.
Addressing cheering crowds at the reception centre, Tarique began his speech with the words “Beloved Bangladesh”, pledging to unite people of all faiths and ensure their safety.
“We will build a Bangladesh that a mother dreams of,” he said, urging Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians to join him in creating an inclusive nation.
Declaring, “I have a plan – a plan for the people of my country, for my country”, Rahman stressed that with cooperation, his vision of a democratic, economically strong Bangladesh can become reality, repeating his appeal: “We want peace in the country.” — Reuters
