Eyeing polls, Khaleda Zia’s self-exiled son Tarique Rahman plans return to Bangladesh after 17 years

After staying away from Bangladesh for nearly 18 years, Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairperson announced that he will return home on December 25.

Addressing his supporters at an event in London on Tuesday held to celebrate the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, Mr. Rahman said that the upcoming election will not be “easy” and that Bangladesh will witness challenges in the months to come.

“I am returning to our country and I seek your blessings for that. On December 25, Insha Allah, with your blessings and with the blessings of Allah, I will return to Bangladesh,” Mr. Rahman said. He further urged his supporters to not go to Heathrow airport on December 25.

Welfare state

In his speech, Mr. Rahman said that if elected to power, his party will turn Bangladesh into a welfare state which will introduce welfare measures for families, farmers and for the unemployed youngsters.

“The next election is not an experiment. We have to remember that the coming months are an opportunity to introduce changes and we will have to use this moment honestly,” Mr. Rahman said, whose father General Ziaur Rahman served as President of Bangladesh from 1977 till 1981, when he was assassinated.

The demand for Mr. Rahman’s return has been strong especially as his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has been hospitalised for weeks because of worsening health condition.

Begum Zia jointly with Sheikh Hasina of Awami League led the anti-Ershad movement of 1990 that led to the fall of President Hossein Mohammed Ershad that year. In 1991, she became the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh and lost power in 1996 to the Awami League which brought Sheikh Hasina to power for the first time. Begum Zia returned to power in 2001 and stayed on till 2006.

During the military-supported interim government in 2007-2008, Mr. Rahman was arrested and fell ill reportedly after being tortured in custody. Subsequently, he was granted bail in court and was allowed to fly to London to seek medical treatment in 2008.