Tarique Rahman returns home after 6,314 days

He is set to attend a rally organised by the BNP on 300 Feet Road to mark his homecoming

BNP leader Tarique Rahman has finally returned to Bangladesh, ending more than a decade and a half in exile.

The Bangladesh Biman flight carrying him landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:43am on Thursday.

He is to be formally welcomed at the airport’s VIP lounge by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the party’s Standing Committee.

Earlier, the flight arrived at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet at 9:55am. After a stopover of just over an hour, it departed for Dhaka at 11:11am.

During the stopover, Tarique remained on board the aircraft. At 10:18am, he posted a smiling photograph with his wife on Facebook, writing: “Finally in Sylhet, on the soil of Bangladesh!”

In an earlier post at 9:34am, he wrote: “After 6,314 days, in the skies of Bangladesh.”

After completing all formalities at the airport, Tarique is due to attend a reception venue near the July 36 Expressway, also known as the 300 Feet Road, where he is expected to address party leaders, activists and members of the public from the stage.

Following the reception, Tarique is scheduled to visit Evercare Hospital to see his mother, BNP chief and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who has been undergoing treatment there since Nov 23.

He and his family members are expected to stay at a residence on Gulshan Avenue following the hospital visit.