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Published : 06 May 2025, 10:06 AM
BNP leaders and activists have crowded Dhaka’s Airport Road to welcome the party’s Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who has returned home after four months of medical treatment in London.
Police said they were “compelled” to block the road from Banani to Gulshan due to the presence of a large number of activists even though there was no prior announcement.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) of Gulshan Division Md Ziaur Rahman said the road from Banani to Gulshan-2 has been blocked with barricades. Traffic police members are asking vehicles moving towards Gulshan to use Banani Road No. 11 instead.
He said, "No cars can get in because of the crowd. As a result, the road has been closed for now."
However, the traffic on all other roads is normal so far, according to the additional deputy commissioner of the Gulshan Division.
Despite repeated requests from the party and police, the crowd left the footpath and took to the road.
The air ambulance carrying Khaleda landed at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport at 10:40am on Tuesday. Around 11:15pm, the car carrying her left the airport on its way to her home. The BNP chief was seen sitting in the front seat.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, accompanied by the party’s Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Selima Rahman, welcomed the BNP chairperson at the airport’s VIP terminal.
Earlier, the BNP said Khaleda's residence “Feroza” on Gulshan's Road 79 has been fully prepared for her.
Thousands of BNP leaders, activists, and supporters have started gathering at the Airport Road to welcome the 79-year-old three-time prime minister since the morning.
As announced earlier, they stayed at Banani, Khilkhet and Airport Road on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway.
Carrying national flags and BNP flags, they arrived on the roads boarding pickups or buses by playing music. Some carried party flags on their heads alongside party banners and festoons. Some joined with traditional band parties and welcomed the BNP chief by chanting slogans.
A large number of army, police, RAB, APBn and Ansar members were deployed on the roads and airport areas to manage crowds.
There was light traffic congestion on the road from Banani to the airport until 11am with no pressure in the opposite direction.
Habibur Rahman, a member of the local Krishak Dal, came to Banani at 9am to greet Khaleda Zia after leaving Dhamrai at 7am.
He said, "It's a happy day for us as the Madam came back home. We came to see her."
Aminul Islam, central committee member of Krishak Dal said: "Madam is coming, so we are coming on behalf of the party. Many common people outside the party have also joined us today.”
Commenting that Khaleda Zia's return to the country will "bring fresh momentum" to the country's politics, he said: "There will definitely be some direction for us, which will be clear within the next few weeks.”
Fearing that there may be traffic gridlock on the Dhaka streets surrounding the former prime minister's return to the country, the airlines requested passengers bound for abroad to leave for the airport with enough time in hand. Tight security has been put in place at the airport.
The BNP had announced plans welcome her on the way to her Gulshan residence from the airport and instructed the party leaders and activists to stay on the roads accordingly.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has also decided to regulate traffic on the Airport Road in order to manage the crowds.
Authorities have urged commuters to avoid the Gulshan/Banani–Uttara stretch of the road and instead use alternative routes.
The party has also been asked to deploy volunteers to help maintain order.
Autorickshaws and motorcycles have also been allowed on the Elevated Expressway during the curbs while light vehicles were permitted on the road through the Dhaka Cantonment.
