Acting President of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Tarique Rahmanreturned to his country this Thursday after almost 17 years of exile. A return which, his political party hopes, will energize its supporters, since he is the main candidate for the post of Prime Minister. … in the general elections scheduled for next February.
Hundreds of thousands of supporters lined the route from Dhaka airport to the reception venue, waving party flags and carrying posters, banners and flowers, as senior BNP leaders welcomed Rahman under tight security.
“Today I want to say that I have a plan for my country… a safe state that people have been waiting for for a long time,” Rahman said in a first speech after returning home. Rahman, 60, son of ailing former prime minister Khaleda Zia, He has lived in London since 2008 and has led the BNP as interim president since 2018.
Visibly moved, Rahman took off his shoes, stood on the grass outside the airport and scooped up dirt as a sign of respect for his homeland. He greeted his supporters before boarding a convoy under tight security, according to video footage shared by his party.
His return comes as Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country of nearly 175 million people, enters a delicate election period under an interim government led by the Nobel laureate. Mohammad Yunusthe “banker to the poor”.
February’s elections are seen as crucial to restoring political stability, more than a year after the revolution that toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While authorities have promised free and peaceful elections, recent attacks on the media and sporadic violence have raised concerns, making Rahman’s return a defining moment for the BNP and the country’s fragile political transition.
About The Author
