DST News: BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to return to Bangladesh on December 25, ending almost 18 years of self-imposed exile in London, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced on Friday night.
Addressing reporters at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Fakhrul described the development as a moment of “deep relief and renewed hope” for both the party and the nation.
“It brings me great joy to share that our Acting Chairman—who has been away for close to 18 years and has guided the democratic movement from abroad—will finally come home on December 25,” he said.
Fakhrul expressed confidence that Tarique’s return would help clear “long-standing obstacles” that have hindered Bangladesh’s democratic process.
“We believe that the barriers to a democratic transition will begin to fall once he is back,” he said, adding that the news had already generated a wave of optimism among supporters across the country.
The BNP leader referred to a recent meeting in London between Tarique Rahman and the Chief Adviser, where both sides agreed that the national election would be held no later than February.
Fakhrul said this decision eliminated lingering uncertainty about the polls.
“With the schedule announced yesterday, the election process is officially underway. People across the country now expect it to move forward,” he said.
Tarique Rahman was arrested on March 7, 2007, during the 1/11 caretaker government. He received bail on September 3, 2008, and left for London on September 11 that year for medical treatment.
Since then, he has lived in the UK with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman.
Over the years, he was handed down convictions in five cases and faced around 100 legal charges during the former Awami League government.
However, following the government’s fall on August 5, all cases against him were dropped through legal proceedings, leaving no active charges pending.
During the press briefing, Fakhrul sharply condemned the shooting of independent Dhaka-8 candidate Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, calling it a deliberate attempt to derail the upcoming election.
“This attack is part of a conspiracy to sabotage the electoral process,” he said. “We demand the immediate arrest of those involved.”
He also criticized the behaviour of supporters of a political party at Dhaka Medical College Hospital when senior BNP leader Mirza Abbas arrived to visit Hadi.
According to Fakhrul, a group gathered there, shouted inflammatory slogans, and attempted to incite mob violence.
“We strongly condemn such actions. If this type of provocation continues, BNP will not stay silent—we will respond,” he warned.
Fakhrul added that while the party does not seek conflict, it will defend itself if targated.
The BNP Secretary General urged all political parties to avoid creating unrest, spreading tension, or disrupting the election environment.
“Everyone must work towards a peaceful atmosphere and a fair election. Otherwise, the path to democratic transition will be obstructed,” he said.
Earlier in the evening, the BNP National Standing Committee held a virtual meeting chaired by Tarique Rahman. Senior leaders including Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Selima Rahman, and Hafizuddin Ahmed later joined the press conference.
Source: UNB
