After 17 years, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has returned to Bangladesh. Following a massive public reception by party leaders and activists on Thursday, he visited his mother, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

On Friday, after Jumu’ah prayers around 2:00 pm, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit the grave of the late President Ziaur Rahman. He will later travel to the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar to pay homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War.

According to a post on the BNP media cell’s Facebook page, special prayers are being held after Friday prayers at mosques across Dhaka and other parts of the country. These prayers are being organized by BNP seeking recovery for Khaleda Zia and marking the return of Tarique Rahman and his family to the country.

The party has urged BNP leaders, activists, and members of the public nationwide to take part in these prayers.

Tarique Rahman arrived in Dhaka on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-202, landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:43 am on Thursday after traveling from London via Sylhet. He was accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and their only daughter, Zaima Rahman.

Under normal circumstances, the journey from the airport to the 300 Feet area of Purbachal takes less than 30 minutes. However, on Thursday, it took around three hours due to massive crowds lining both sides of the road. Not only party activists, but also large numbers of people gathered to catch a glimpse of Tarique Rahman after his long absence and to witness what many considered a historic return. The six-and-a-half-kilometre stretch from the airport to the reception venue turned into a sea of people.

Security around the airport and along the route was visibly tight. From the VIP gate of the airport to the rally venue, law enforcement agencies, including the army, maintained a strong security presence around the bus carrying Tarique Rahman.