After 17 years in exile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting president Tariq Rahman returned to Dhaka on Thursday. It is expected to be a significant political event in the country’s history after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power during the July uprising last year.
Rehman arrived in London on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight along with his wife Zubaida Rehman and daughter Zaima Rehman, bdnews24 reported. The aircraft took a stopover in Sylhet before leaving for Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
A huge crowd has also gathered near the airport and along the 300-foot road, where BNP leaders and workers are preparing for a grand ceremony to welcome the party’s acting chief.
Supporters from across the country have gathered since morning, turning the entire area into a sea of people. BNP party workers had made elaborate arrangements to welcome their acting chief.
Senior party leaders, including standing committee members, will be present at the airport to welcome him, followed by a brief welcome programme, bdnews24 reports.
To control the crowd, airport authorities imposed a 24-hour ban on the entry of visitors to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport ahead of Rehman’s return.
The restrictions will be in place from 6:00 pm on December 24 to 6:00 pm on December 25, officials said in a statement, according to BDNews24.
During this period, entry into the airport will be permitted only to passengers holding valid tickets and passports, and all other visitors and their accompanying persons will be barred from entering the airport premises.
The interim government of Bangladesh is also implementing necessary measures for the security of the acting president of BNP.
According to Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the interim government’s chief adviser, the government welcomed Rahman’s return to the country and said security preparations were being finalized in coordination with the BNP, and authorities were working to fulfill all requests made by the party, bdnews24 reported.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Alam said the government was making “every possible effort” to ensure adequate security.
After his arrival, Rehman will attend a brief welcome ceremony hosted by the party at 300 Feet Road, also known as 36 July Expressway, BDNews24 reported.
BNP Standing Committee member and convener of the “Tariq Homecoming Committee” Salahuddin Ahmed said the event held at 300 Feet Road will also include a short address by the acting president.
He will then go to Evercare Hospital and later return to his residence on Gulshan Avenue in Dhaka, BDNews24 reported.
BDNews24 quoted Salahuddin Ahmed as saying that during his visit, Rehman will also get himself registered as a voter on December 27. He said election offices would remain open on Saturday to enable Rahman to complete the necessary formalities, including obtaining his national identity card.
Meanwhile, nomination papers have already been collected in Bogura on behalf of Khaleda Zia and Tariq Rehman for the parliamentary elections to be held on February 12, BDNews24 reports.
According to BNP Bogura district unit president Rezaul Karim Badshah, Khaleda Zia’s nomination papers were received from Bogura-7 constituency, while Tariq Rehman’s nomination papers were received from Bogura-6 constituency.
Former MP Helaluzzaman Talukdar Lalu collected the nomination papers for Khaleda Zia, while Badshah collected the form on behalf of Tariq Rehman, bdnews24 reported.
