Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, returned to Dhaka on Thursday after nearly 17 years in exile, marking a significant moment in the country’s unsettled political transition.
Widely viewed as the frontrunner for prime minister in February’s general election, Rahman’s homecoming drew hundreds of thousands of supporters who lined the route from the airport to a reception venue under heavy security.
The 60-year-old leader had lived in London since 2008, after leaving Bangladesh amid what he described as politically motivated persecution, and has led the BNP as acting chairman since 2018.
His return comes as Bangladesh prepares for a closely watched vote under an interim administration, with major parties seeking to consolidate support after years of political turbulence.
Rahman’s arrival was marked by a carefully choreographed display of symbolism and mass support.
Dressed in a light grey checkered blazer and white shirt, he removed his shoes, stepped barefoot onto Bangladeshi soil, and picked up a handful of earth as supporters cheered.
Addressing the crowd, he opened his remarks with “Beloved Bangladesh,” and pledged to unite citizens across religious and regional lines.
“We will build a Bangladesh that a mother dreams of,” he said, calling for cooperation among Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians.
He also emphasized stability, repeating his appeal for calm by saying, “We want peace in the country.”
Senior BNP leaders greeted him at the airport, and party officials said he would later visit his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who has been seriously ill for months.
Rahman’s return follows the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year in a student-led uprising, an event that overturned the legal barriers preventing his return.
He had previously been convicted in absentia on charges including money laundering and involvement in an alleged plot against Hasina, convictions that were later overturned.
With Khaleda Zia ailing, Rahman is expected to assume a more direct leadership role in the BNP, filling a vacuum within one of Bangladesh’s largest political parties.
The upcoming election is widely seen as a test of whether political stability can be restored after nearly two years of unrest.
Surveys cited by party officials suggest the BNP is positioned to win the largest share of parliamentary seats, while concerns remain about sporadic violence and pressure on media outlets.
Against this backdrop, Rahman’s homecoming stands as a defining moment in Bangladesh’s fragile transition.