A pivotal moment is unfolding in Bangladesh’s political landscape. Tarique Rehman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to return to Dhaka on Thursday after nearly 17 years of exile in London. His return home coincides with a crucial moment for Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister’s son. Rehman’s homecoming might put him in a prominent position to lead a prospective new BNP administration, given that the governing Awami League is prohibited from participating in the upcoming elections and his mother is ill.
Landmark Return After Legal Battles
Why is this return happening now?Tarique Rehman left Bangladesh in 2008, following multiple criminal convictions on charges including money laundering and alleged involvement in an assassination plot against then-opposition leader Sheikh Hasina. His path cleared only after Hasina’s government was ousted last year, with courts subsequently acquitting him of all charges. This legal clean slate has paved the way for his dramatic political re-entry, transforming him from a convicted exile to a potential prime ministerial candidate for the BNP, which is currently seen as the frontrunner for the upcoming polls.
The First Day: Arrival, Address, and a Family Visit
What will Rehman do immediately upon landing? According to a party press conference reported by the Daily Star, his first day in Bangladesh (December 25) is packed with symbolic events. Senior BNP leaders will receive him at Dhaka airport at noon. He will then travel via the July Expressway to a reception venue, where he will thank party workers and deliver a crucial address to the nation. The deeply personal highlight of the day will be a visit to Evercare Hospital to see his ailing mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, before retiring to his Gulshan residence.
Day Two: Tributes to Legacy and Sacrifice
What are Rehman’s plans to honour the past? His second day, December 26, will focus on paying respects to both personal and national history. After Friday prayers, he will visit his father’s grave—former President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, signalling his political heritage. He will then travel to Savar to honour the National Martyrs’ Memorial, connecting his return to Bangladesh’s broader historical narrative.
The Final Day: Formal Duties and Symbolic Outreach
What practical and symbolic steps will he take? The third day (December 27) blends official formalities with public outreach.He is scheduled to complete the procedures for his Bangladeshi national identity card and voter registration, a necessary step for his political future. His schedule then shifts to significant symbolic visits, such as visiting the National Institute of Traumatology to speak with individuals hurt during last year’s protests and paying homage at the grave of Osman Hadi, a recently deceased student leader at Dhaka University. These visits are obviously an appeal to young people and victims of political conflict, two important BNP constituencies.
FAQs: Understanding Tarique Rehman’s Return
Q: Why was Tarique Rehman in exile for 17 years?
A: After being found guilty of several crimes, including money laundering and his participation in a plot to kill Sheikh Hasina, he fled Bangladesh in 2008.Since then, he has been cleared of all accusations.
Q: What is the political significance of his return now?
A: He left Bangladesh in 2008 after being convicted of multiple offenses, including money laundering and his involvement in a scheme to assassinate Sheikh Hasina.He has been exonerated of all charges since then.
Q: What is the most significant event on his schedule?
A: Every day is very important: on Day 1, he will address the country; on Day 2, he will visit his father’s grave; and on Day 3, he will finish registering to vote. There is a great deal of political and personal significance to his visit to his sick mother, Khaleda Zia.
Q: Is he eligible to contest elections now?
A: With his acquittals and the planned completion of his voter registration on December 27, the legal barriers to his candidacy appear to have been removed, making him eligible to run.
