Tarique likely to return on 28 July

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman will return to Dhaka on 28 July, according to senior party leaders.

A bulletproof vehicle and multiple layers of security are being prepared to receive him, marking a highly anticipated homecoming after years in exile.

At a press briefing on 27 June, BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie confirmed that preparations are underway both in London and within Bangladesh.

“Tarique Rahman will return very soon,” he said, noting that logistics—including the armoured car, Central Security Force, and police escort—are being actively finalised.

Wishing anonymity, a top BNP insider told this correspondent that Tarique will fly from London to Sylhet before arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) on 28 July.

“A bulletproof car and dedicated security detail will be ready to receive him,” the source said, adding that Tarique’s renovated Gulshan residence will serve as his initial base before he transitions to a nearby office to coordinate BNP affairs.

Preparations have intensified since Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury confirmed that no legal barriers are preventing Tarique’s return, opening pathways for his late July arrival.

Why this matters

Following his acquittal in key cases, including those related to the 21 August grenade attack, Tarique has reportedly faced no current threat of arrest. His return appears to reflect a broader political shift.

BNP insiders believe Tarique’s arrival will energise the party’s grassroots ahead of an expected election schedule, potentially signalling the start of mass mobilisation efforts.

The deployment of a bulletproof convoy and tight security underscores the high-profile nature of his return and acknowledges potential risks—both logistical and political.

Tarique Rahman, son of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has led the BNP from London since 2008. He assumed the role of acting chairman in 2018. Following the August 2024 mass uprising and a series of legal decisions, he was acquitted of several charges, clearing the path for his homecoming.

Sources confirmed the party has refurbished Tarique’s Gulshan Avenue residence in anticipation of his arrival, reinforcing the BNP’s commitment to re-establishing its central leadership in Dhaka before the next election cycle.