Tarique Rahman to return home with daughter Zaima: BNP Chairperson’s PS

Tarique Rahman, the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to return to Bangladesh on December 25 after nearly 18 years in exile.

He will be accompanied by his daughter, Zaima Rahman. The father and daughter is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital around 11 am. 

Abdus Sattar, the Personal Secretary to the BNP Chairperson, confirmed to BBC Bangla. Their journey will take them from London to Sylhet before their final arrival in the capital. 

Tarique Rahman personally confirmed the homecoming date during a Victory Day celebration organized by the BNP in London on Tuesday. 

This return marks a historic turning point for the party and ends a long period of political residence in the United Kingdom. The BNP leader has been living in London with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman since 2008.

Meanwhile, BNP formed a high-level committee to organise a reception for Tarique Rahman and Zaima Rahman. 

The party appointed BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed as the Convener of the committee while Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi will serve as its Member Secretary.

"The party leaders, activists, supporters, and the general public are eagerly awaiting the arrival of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on December 25," said BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan. 

"To welcome him, a committee has been formed with BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed as the convener and its Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as the member secretary."

The reception committee includes several high-ranking officials including the 10 divisional Organizing Secretaries of the BNP, Presidents and General Secretaries of the party's various affiliated organisations and the conveners and member secretaries of the Dhaka Metropoliton North and South units.

The reception committee held its first meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the action plan for Tarique Rahman's return. This followed a joint meeting of the BNP and its affiliated organisations that was held last Monday at BNP Chairperson's Office in the capital's Gulshan.