by Maruf Ul Alam (Dhaka Bureau)
Tarique Rahman, the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has returned home to a royal reception. After living in exile for nearly 17 years, he returned to Bangladesh on December 25. He was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, and their only daughter, Zaima Rahman. Upon his return, he was bathed in the love of millions of people. Stepping off the aircraft onto Bangladeshi soil, Tarique Rahman picked up a handful of earth. Overwhelmed by the scent of the soil, he expressed his deep love and gratitude for his motherland.
The streets of the ‘July 36 Expressway’, seven kilometers away from the airport, are seen completely packed with people.
The end of Tarique Rahman’s 17-year exile and his return to home soil has spread intense emotion and boundless excitement not only within his family and party but throughout the entire political landscape of the country. A wave of hope and expectation is flowing through the public mind. From the moment he landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Thursday, an atmosphere of overflowing enthusiasm and emotional intensity was created among millions of leaders, activists, and supporters. Behind this emotional scene lies a long political context and personal struggle, which is not just the story of Tarique Rahman’s life, but the beginning of a new chapter for a leader in Bangladeshi politics.
Tarique Rahman is seen greeting the public by waving his hand from a special bulletproof vehicle while traveling from the airport.
From the airport, Tarique Rahman’s motorcade pushed through the sea of people toward a reception stage built on the July 36 Expressway, seven kilometers away, where he delivered his speech.
Before addressing the crowd from the reception stage, Tarique Rahman greeted the massive gathering by waving his hand.
In that long-awaited speech, the BNP Acting Chairman provided a roadmap for the future politics of Bangladesh, weaving together the sacrifices of the martyrs- from the Great Liberation War of 1971 to the mass uprising of 2024—into a single thread.
Calling for the restoration of fundamental rights, the establishment of democracy, and the building of a secure state involving people of all religions, classes, and professions, he stated that the only way to repay the blood debt of the martyrs is to build the expected Bangladesh through unity.
Referencing the American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Tarique Rahman said, ‘He had a famous dialogue- ‘I have a dream.’ Today, standing on this soil of Bangladesh before all of you, I want to say as a member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party- I have a plan for the people of my country, for my country.’
International media outlets have given special importance to the news of his return ahead of the upcoming national elections in Bangladesh. Influential media organizations published reports referring to him as one of the potential future Prime Ministers of Bangladesh.
While party activists are energized by his return, leaders of various political parties believe his presence will play a role in normalizing the current political situation and steering the country fully toward elections. Tarique Rahman’s presence is seen as a relief for both the party and the people of the country.
However, political analysts suggest that the political history of Bangladesh has reached a critical turning point. In this situation, the return of Tarique Rahman, as the leader of the country’s largest party, BNP, will signal the start of expected changes. Especially following the fall of the Awami League on August 5, 2024, the BNP faces various challenges under the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Tarique Rahman has returned amidst multiple challenges, including uncertainties regarding holding elections at the right time and the multifaceted rise of extremist organizations in the country.
The Author:
Maruf Ul Alam: Staff Correspondent and Head of Support Service, Pressenza – Dhaka Bureau.
