Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, has returned to Dhaka after 17 years of self-imposed exile. Rahman, accompanied by his wife and daughter, arrived at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. He was warmly welcomed by BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other central figures.
Reports indicate that Rahman proceeded to a reception venue on 300 Feet Road in the capital, where he is set to address a large gathering. Thousands of BNP supporters gathered early in the day at the venue, eagerly awaiting his arrival with banners and chants of “The leader is coming.” Following the event, Rahman plans to visit his mother, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is receiving medical care at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
Authorities have heightened security measures in key areas of the capital in anticipation of Rahman’s return. Law enforcement personnel, including members of the Bangladesh Army, Airport Armed Police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), are on high alert. Rahman’s return coincides with the upcoming national parliamentary election scheduled for February 12, 2026, and a referendum on the July Charter.
Analysts suggest that Rahman’s return and potential participation in the elections will be a significant test amid the current political unrest in Bangladesh. The country has been experiencing widespread violence since the election schedule was announced. Concerns are raised that Rahman’s presence could escalate tensions in the already volatile political environment, especially given BNP’s past collaboration with the interim government.
