Dhaka, December 25: Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Thursday after 17 years, marking a major political development ahead of the country’s upcoming national elections. Local media reported the development on Wednesday, citing senior BNP leaders.
Addressing a press conference in Dhaka, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed outlined Rahman’s travel itinerary. According to the plan, Rahman will depart from London’s Heathrow Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, accompanied by his wife, Zubaida Rahman, and daughter, Zaima Rahman.
Upon arrival in Dhaka, Rahman is expected to briefly address party supporters before visiting his mother and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently receiving treatment in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital in the capital. Rahman is also scheduled to complete formalities to become a registered voter on December 27, according to reports by the Dhaka Tribune.
The interim government has welcomed Rahman’s return. Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, stated that all necessary assistance and security arrangements are being provided in coordination with the BNP. Speaking to reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, Alam said the government has taken “the highest effort” to ensure Rahman’s safe return, while addressing the party’s security requirements.
According to Dhaka Tribune sources, more than 100,000 BNP supporters from Chittagong metropolitan areas and various northern and southern districts are expected to gather in Dhaka to welcome Rahman.
Rahman’s return comes shortly after the Election Commission announced that Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, along with a referendum on the July Charter, will be held on February 12 next year. Having led the BNP from exile in London and recently been acquitted in major cases, including the August 2004 grenade attack, Rahman now faces minimal legal obstacles to re-enter active politics.
Political analysts believe Rahman’s return and possible participation in the February 2026 elections could significantly influence Bangladesh’s volatile political climate. With reports of rising violence since the election schedule announcement, critics warn that his homecoming may further intensify political tensions under the Yunus-led interim government, which is under pressure to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process.
