Khaleda Zia’s son returns home after 17 years

DHAKA: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tariq Rahman returned home on Thursday after spending 17 years in exile.

He arrived in Bangladesh with his wife and daughter after a stay in London, where tight security arrangements were made in various cities including the capital.

Tariq Rahman is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and his return is being described as a major development in the country’s politics.

Tariq Rahman arrived home at around 10 am at the Osmani International Airport in Sylhet on a Bangladesh Airlines flight.

According to officials, he later left for Dhaka, where police and other security agencies were kept on alert to control large gatherings and maintain law and order on the occasion of his arrival.

Despite the cold weather, a large number of party workers and supporters were present at the airport and welcomed their leader.

Tariq Rahman’s return comes at a time when the security situation in the country remains sensitive.

The killing of young political leader Sharif Usman Hadi on December 18 further heightened tensions. Usman Hadi had died in Singapore, after being attacked in Dhaka, where he was rushed to Singapore for treatment after sustaining injuries.

The incident sparked a strong reaction in political and social circles.

Tensions escalated further when unidentified assailants hurled an improvised explosive device (IED) from a flyover in Dhaka’s Mughal Bazaar area on Wednesday, killing a passerby.

According to local police, the incident is under investigation and efforts are being made to identify the attackers.

A social organization called ‘Inqilab Manch’ held protests at Shaheed Minar and Shah Bagh against the killing of Sharif Usman Hadi.

The organization demanded that the government immediately bring the killers to justice and gave a 24-hour deadline for this purpose.

The Inqilab Manch, which played a prominent role in the July 2024 popular movement, says that action against the accused should be completed before the upcoming 13th general elections and the expected referendum.

According to political observers, Tariq Rahman’s return to the country is expected to bring new activity and possible changes to Bangladeshi politics, especially at a time when the country is going through political unrest, security concerns and preparations for the upcoming electoral process.

There is also ongoing discussion about the possibility of his presence giving a new direction to opposition politics.