BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has been issued a travel pass by the Bangladesh High Commission in London, paving the way for his long-awaited return to the country. Officials confirmed that his application was processed within a day.
Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on December 25. The party is preparing a grand reception to welcome him back after 17 years in exile.
A senior leader of the UK BNP said, “Everything is moving according to plan. Tarique Rahman applied for the travel pass and has already received it.” An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the development, noting that Rahman submitted his application on Thursday.
Rahman left Bangladesh in September 2008 for medical treatment in the United Kingdom after being released from prison, where he had been detained following the political upheaval of 2007. Since then, he has remained abroad.
His return comes in a dramatically changed political landscape. On August 5 last year, a mass student-led uprising toppled Sheikh Hasina’s 15-and-a-half-year rule. Following the change, several convictions against Rahman were overturned, while in other cases he was legally acquitted.
Due to political circumstances, Rahman’s passport expired during his exile and was never renewed. Even after the fall of the Awami League government, he did not apply for a new passport. Under current regulations, he must return on a travel pass as a Bangladeshi national.
BNP leaders confirmed that Rahman will fly on a regular Bangladesh Biman flight, landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:55 a.m. on December 25. From there, he is expected to go directly to Evercare Hospital to meet his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who has been undergoing treatment since November 23.
Rahman’s homecoming marks a significant moment in Bangladesh’s political history, symbolizing both personal and party revival after years of exile.
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