His return generates political enthusiasm

Exiled BNP leader Tarique Rahman Thursday returned home to a rousing reception all the way from the airport onto a podium amidst a human sea on a Dhaka boulevard where he saluted his homeland Bangladesh in an emotional speech.

At the mammoth welcome rally, amid an ambiance of post-uprising unrest, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman urged citizens to keep peace and public order "by any means".

His homecoming proceeded through security bulwarks built by police, army and armed police units around the airport and along the motorcade route as supporters surged forward, at times overwhelming law enforcers, says a firsthand account of the scenes.

Authorities had earlier restricted access to the airport VIP area to journalists only, obviously to keep crowds at bay.

Soon after landing, Rahman phoned the chief adviser of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, thanking him for arrangements, particularly security. "On behalf of myself and my family, I thank you… especially for the security," he says in the phone talk, according to party officials.

His itinerary shows today (Friday), 26 December, after Jumu'ah prayers, he will visit the grave of his father, former president Ziaur Rahman, followed by a visit to the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar, a symbolic act intended to underline his party's nationalist credentials.

On December 27, Rahman is scheduled to apply for voter registration, formally re-entering Bangladesh's electoral framework after years abroad.

The same day, he will visit the grave of Sharif Osman Hadi, the slain spokesperson for Inqilab Mancha and a prominent figure in the July mass uprising, before heading to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Pangu Hospital) to meet protesters injured during last year's anti-government movement that brought about the regime change and thus paved the way for his repatriation.

Tarique Rahman's departure from Bangladesh in 2008 followed a period of intense political upheaval, arrests and prosecutions after the military-backed caretaker government and later the Awami League returned to power.

Convicted in several corruption and criminal cases - verdicts BNP maintains were politically motivated - Rahman remained in the UK while leading the party in his mother's absence as she faced imprisonment and legal pressure at home.

For nearly two decades, Rahman's name has hovered over Bangladeshi politics as both a rallying point for the opposition and a lightning rod for controversy. Supporters portray him as a victim of authoritarian repression; critics accuse him of avoiding accountability. His prolonged absence became emblematic of a political system in which exile replaced dialogue and courts were widely viewed as politicised.

Repeated announcements of his imminent return - often followed by silence - fuelled confusion and scepticism. Only in recent weeks, following the fall of the Hasina government and the installation of an interim administration, did the prospect become concrete.

BNP leaders say Rahman's physical presence will transform the party's electoral preparedness and morale ahead of the next national elections. His return is expected to consolidate party unity, energise grassroots networks and sharpen the opposition's challenge to rivals.

Rahman's return ends one of the longest political exiles in Bangladesh's recent history, and injects new momentum into an already- volatile political landscape. Whether his call for calm and unity can temper passions on the streets now becomes the central test of his message - and of the country's uneasy transition ahead.

After coming out of the airport indoor waiting room, Tarique Rahman first stood some time barefoot and took a handful of soil to rejoin and feel the home touch.

Meanwhile, many BNP supporters failed to move towards the airport and the 300-foot road as so many BNP supporters already occupied the roads and surroundings from across the country.

Small farmer and worker Md Akhterul, 48, came from Jessore a day before (Wednesday) and resided at his sister's residence in Dhaka to join the grand reception for Tarique Rahman organized by the BNP.

"It's like a Big Day for me," says he with joy as he, like other supporters of the BNP, had waited last 17 years to see the day of his homecoming.

He was barred from coming home despite his all rights to live in the country. But the fascist Hasina government barred him on false corruption charges -and these efforts were not but to restrict Tarique Rahman to lead the party and the country, Akhterul deplores.

Over the gatherings of huge people, vendors were also seen moving around the areas to do business as there were huge demands specially for water and snacks. Vendors were also seen carrying national flags and flags of the BNP party.

Talking to the FE, Shariful Islam, a young man selling BNP's flags in Notun Bazar area of the city, said there were more supplies than demands that impacted his today's selling.

However, people were seen gathered at the temporary tea stall as they had to trudge down long paths in the city due to shortage of public transports while traffic police restricted entry of any vehicles in roads towards the airport.

The DMP traffic restricted so many roads to ensure security over the homecoming.

High security was ensured with hundreds of members of the Bangladesh army, police, BGB and others. The security personnel were deployed around the airport areas, not allowing in any public vehicles.

Earlier, Tarique Rahman arrived at Sylhet's Osmani International Airport at 9:56 am. Later, the Bangladesh Biman flight carrying him landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport 11:39am. His mother-in-law, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the party's standing committee welcomed the Tariques with flowers at the airport's VIP lounge.

Outside, since Thursday morning, leaders and activists had stood on both sides of the road with various types of placards, banners and flowers in their hands at the Dhaka airport. They were shouting slogans welcoming the return of the native.

Later, Tarique Rahman left the airport for the public reception venue on the 36 July Expressway (300 feet). And from the airport, his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman, went to their Gulshan house.

Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been deployed there to put up security rings. Traffic has been controlled on the surrounding roads to Gulshan house-196.

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