After 17 years abroad, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman is set to return to Bangladesh on December 25, with the party planning a landmark rally to mark his comeback and energise national politics.
BNP leaders say the event will be the largest public gathering in the party's history in Dhaka. Enthusiasm surged after BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir confirmed the return date last Friday night.
Party sources say organisational preparations -- including security arrangements and the overall action plan -- will be finalised within the next two to three days, with Dhaka North and South BNP units executing the programme under central coordination.
A central coordination committee will be formed shortly, involving BNP and its affiliated bodies including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, Swechchasebak Dal, the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, and others.
BNP leaders expect a huge turnout of leaders, activists, supporters, and ordinary citizens from across the country. The gathering is likely to stretch from the airport area to Gulshan and Banani.
Mirza Fakhrul recently hinted at the scale of preparations, saying that Tarique Rahman's arrival should resonate across the country. "BNP wants to change the political landscape that day," he said.
BNP mass education secretary and spokesperson Prof Dr Morshed Hasan Khan told The Financial Express that discussions on programmes marking Tarique Rahman's return are ongoing and will be finalised soon.
To reduce public inconvenience, the return has been scheduled on a public holiday. December 25 (Thursday) is Christmas Day, a government holiday, followed by the weekly weekend. "Office-goers and daily wage earners are unlikely to be affected, while party leaders and activists will be able to celebrate the day," the spokesperson said.
Security is being given the highest priority. The Chairperson Security Force (CSF), responsible for protecting BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, has been reorganised and its manpower increased.
Retired Brig Gen AKM Shamsul Islam has been appointed as the new head of the CSF, which will ensure the safety of Tarique Rahman and his wife, Zubaida Rahman.
Meanwhile, the interim government has declared Khaleda Zia a Very Important Person (VIP) and deployed the Special Security Force (SSF) for her protection. Authorities have also assured security for Tarique Rahman.
BNP organising secretary Md Selim Bhuiyan said a house has been rented in Gulshan-2, where an office setup is nearly complete. "He [Tarique] will conduct his political work from this house."
Tarique Rahman was arrested in 2007 following the 1/11 political change by the then army-backed caretaker government. After his release in 2008, he travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) for medical treatment. Later, the Awami League-led government cancelled his passport, preventing his return to Bangladesh.
Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government after the July-August 2024 student-public uprising, discussions about Tarique Rahman's return gained momentum. His wife, Zubaida Rahman, returned on December 5 to visit her mother-in-law, Begum Khaleda Zia, who is critically ill at Evercare Hospital in the capital.
Political observers believe Tarique Rahman's return, ahead of the 13th general election, will energise BNP leaders and activists and could have a significant impact on Bangladeshi politics.
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