Tarique Rahman, eldest son of Bangladesh’s former President Ziaur Rahman and ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has returned to Bangladesh after nearly 17 years in self-imposed exile. The BNP acting chairman was welcomed at Dhaka airport by thousands of supporters waving banners and placards, marking a historic homecoming for the party’s leadership.
Rahman, who has lived in London since 2008 due to multiple criminal convictions at home, arrived with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. Social media buzzed with images of their flight from London’s Heathrow Airport, as preparations for what BNP calls an “unprecedented” gathering of over five million people in Dhaka intensified.
BNP supporters marched along Banani Airport Road since early morning, demonstrating the party’s widespread mobilization capacity. Senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi described the event as “a defining political moment,” with security arrangements being coordinated closely with authorities to maintain order.
During his years abroad, Rahman led the BNP from London, serving as Senior Vice Chairman from 2009 and running a private PR and communications firm in the UK. Following the removal of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024, all legal barriers preventing his return were lifted. His homecoming coincides with the February parliamentary elections, where BNP is widely expected to perform strongly.
Bangladesh currently stands at a political crossroads. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, aims to ensure free and peaceful elections amid rising concerns over media attacks and sporadic violence. Observers note that Rahman’s return is both politically symbolic and personally motivated, with his mother Khaleda Zia seriously ill.
The National Citizen Party welcomed his return, highlighting the symbolic significance of ending his long exile. As Rahman steps back into the political arena, Bangladesh braces for a turbulent yet pivotal election period, with the nation closely watching how his presence shapes the political landscape.
