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In a moment that marks a significant turning point for the political landscape of Bangladesh, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has officially arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport to begin his journey back to his homeland.This departure marks the end of a self-imposed exile that spanned nearly two decades, during which the prominent leader remained a focal point of opposition politics from abroad. Despite his repeated requests during his final public rally in London for supporters to refrain from gathering at the airport, hundreds of activists thronged Heathrow to bid Tarique Rahman an emotional farewell. He entered the airport at 4:15 PM and promptly completed his check-in formalities.
Witnesses at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 reported a high-stakes atmosphere as Tarique Rahman arrived this afternoon. While the leader has frequented this terminal many times over the past seventeen years to see off his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, today’s visit carried a different weight. For the first time since 2008, he is the one checking in for a flight bound for Dhaka.
The BNP leader departed from his residence in London at 2:15 PM local time. He is scheduled to travel on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG 202, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The flight is expected to depart Heathrow at 6:15 PM local time.
Accompanying him on this historic journey are his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, and his daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman. Prior to their arrival, members of his entourage were seen completing check-in formalities. While six tickets were officially booked for the leader’s immediate circle, a wave of solidarity has followed him to the gate. More than fifty senior party leaders and activists have reportedly purchased tickets on the same flight at their own expense to accompany their leader on his homecoming.
The return follows a period of immense political upheaval in Bangladesh, including the recent transition in government power. Legal experts and party insiders suggest that the clearance for his return comes amid a shifting judicial climate where several cases against him are being reviewed or challenged. Security in Dhaka has been significantly bolstered in anticipation of his arrival, with thousands of supporters expected to gather at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to provide a hero’s welcome.
As the Boeing 787 prepares for takeoff, the implications for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the country’s democratic trajectory are profound. Tarique Rahman’s physical presence in Dhaka is expected to galvanize the party’s grassroots base and reshape the upcoming electoral discourse.
Update-Tarique Rahman En Route to Bangladesh-The flight carrying BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is currently on its way to Bangladesh. Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG 202 departed from Heathrow Airport at 6:15 PM local time. This information was confirmed just moments before takeoff by Nasrullah Khan Junaid, a leader of the 1990s student movement and a fellow passenger on the same flight.
