Bangladesh opposition leader Tarique Rahman set for historic homecoming

BNP plans historical rally arsenic Rahman, seen arsenic a cardinal leader, marks his highly anticipated homecoming.

Bangladesh’s main absorption enactment says it is preparing a immense amusement of enactment arsenic its leader, Tarique Rahman, prepares to instrumentality location aft astir 17 years successful exile.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) aims to mobilise up to 5 cardinal supporters successful the superior to invited Rahman, who is wide viewed arsenic the party’s premier ministerial frontrunner for the country’s parliamentary elections scheduled for February.

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His expected accomplishment from London connected Thursday comes arsenic the BNP regains momentum aft the removal of longtime person Sheikh Hasina successful a student-led uprising past year.

Rahman, 60, is the lad of erstwhile Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and presently serves arsenic the BNP’s acting chairman.

Since 1991, powerfulness successful Bangladesh has mostly alternated betwixt Zia and Hasina, isolated from little caretaker administrations. With Hasina’s Awami League barred from contesting the February 12 vote, the BNP present appears positioned to predominate the race.

‘A defining governmental moment’

BNP leaders accidental they are coordinating information arrangements with authorities for what they telephone an “unprecedented” mobilisation, with supporters expected to enactment the way from the airdrome to the reception venue.

“This volition beryllium a defining governmental moment,” elder BNP person Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said.

Rahman has lived successful London since 2008 aft facing aggregate transgression convictions successful Bangladesh, including wealth laundering and charges linked to an alleged crippled to assassinate Hasina. Courts acquitted him pursuing Hasina’s removal from office, removing the ineligible obstacles that had delayed his return.

BNP officials said Rahman volition proceed straight from the airdrome to the rally venue earlier visiting his mother, who has been earnestly sick for months.

The homecoming unfolds during a fragile transition overseen by an interim authorities led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The predetermination is seen arsenic a captious trial of Bangladesh’s quality to reconstruct antiauthoritarian legitimacy aft years of governmental turmoil.

Concerns persist implicit sporadic unit and caller attacks connected media outlets, raising questions astir the state’s capableness to guarantee a credible vote.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), which emerged from the younker protestation question that toppled Hasina, welcomed Rahman’s return.

“Rahman was forced into exile nether terrible unit and threats, truthful his homecoming carries symbolic weight,” said NCP spokesperson Khan Muhammad Mursalin. “His accomplishment volition undoubtedly energise enactment leaders and supporters … On the way to democracy, we volition basal with him.”