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Former Prime Minister’s son returned home bangladesh On Thursday, after nearly 17 years in self-exile, he became the frontrunner to lead the country after parliamentary elections in February.
Tariq Rahman He moved to London in 2008 for treatment after allegedly being tortured in custody during the military rule from 2006 to 2008.
Mr Rahman, 60, is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, one of the two major political parties in the South Asian country of more than 170 million people. His return is being considered politically important before the next elections to be held on February 12.
A flight carrying Mr Rahman, his wife and daughter arrived at Dhaka International Airport on Thursday morning amid tight security measures.
A huge crowd of supporters waited for him between the airport and the reception venue, where many stayed overnight. A large number of people were waiting at the venue.
Members of Mr Rahman’s party had said they expected “millions” of people to turn out. It took nearly four hours for Mr Rahman to reach a temporary platform set up on a major road as a bus carrying him struggled to deal with the crowd. He told supporters that he would work to establish a safe Bangladesh for all and promised to maintain religious harmony.
He said, “I have a plan for the people of my country. Let us build a secure Bangladesh.” “We want peace, peace, peace. We will create a Bangladesh that a mother dreams of.”
Mr Rahman said he would then go to the hospital to visit his seriously ill mother, the former prime minister Khaleda ZiaWho led a coalition government from 2001 to 2006, when an unelected regime backed by the military took power amid widespread political chaos.
Ms Zia entered politics after the assassination of her husband, former military ruler and later President Ziaur Rahman, during a military coup in 1981.
He first took power in 1991 after becoming a key leader in a nine-year movement against a military dictator who had been forced to step down during a mass uprising the year before.
Ms Zia is considered one of two major figures in Bangladesh politics, along with Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia in November.
Ms Hasina was convicted of crimes against humanity in August 2024 for overseeing a deadly crackdown on the mass uprising that ended her 15-year rule.
After the fall of her regime, Ms. Hasina fled to neighboring India, which has blocked Dhaka’s requests for the former leader’s extradition.
In recent years, as his mother’s health deteriorated, Mr. Rahman took over as the de facto leader of her Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He regularly attended online meetings and rallies from London, keeping his party united. During his absence, no party insider challenged him openly.
Bangladesh is at a political crossroads. The interim government led by banker Muhammad Yunus is struggling to maintain law and order and restore trust as it attempts to return democracy after Hasina’s long tenure as prime minister.
Human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International accuse the Yunus government of eroding democratic rights.
Mr Yunus supported Mr Rahman when he took over as interim ruler after Ms Hasina ousted him, but relations with his party remain volatile.
Mr Rahman was convicted in several criminal cases during Ms Hasina’s rule. But appeals courts under the interim administration have acquitted him of all criminal charges, including involvement in a grenade attack on a rally of Ms Hasina in 2004.