Tarique Rahman reaches Gulshan residence
NN ONLINE:
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has reached Gulshan residence after visiting ailing mother and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at Evercare Hospital here. He reached his residence at house number 196 on Gulshan Avenue at around 8.25pm today.
Earlier, he arrived at Evercare hospital at around 6pm after attending a mammoth public gathering at July 36 Expressway (popularly known as 300-Feet Road) to welcome him on his historic homecoming from London. After a long time, being reunited with critically ill mother on home soil, he became overwhelmed with emotion.
Tarique Rahman spoke with the physicians at Evercare Hospital and inquired about his mother’s latest physical condition. He spent some times by his mother’s side for quite a while. At that time, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman were with him.
Tarique Rahman returned home after a long 17 years in exile in the UK. He arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here around 11.40am by a regular Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight after departing from London’s Heathrow Airport at 6.15pm (London Time) on Wednesday.
He was accorded warm reception and emotional greetings at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on arrival from London. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir led the party standing committee members to greet the acting chairman and accord reception at the VVIP lounge of the airport after his return from London as Tarique Rahman embraced them with a wide smile and warm handshake.
He also exchanged pleasantries with the BNP men present at the airport and waved his hand towards them. His mother-in-law Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu welcomed him with a flower bouquet as his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman accompanied him.
After airport proceedings, he started journey to the July 36 Expressway (popularly known as 300-Feet Road) venue by a bus amid tight security. He came out of the airport and touched down the soil with dew dropped grasses barefoot before traveling to the brief public event venue at 36 Expressway (300-Foot Road). He also grasped a fist of soil, brought to nose and sniffed being emotional. Then, a motorcade escorted Tarique Rahman’s bus to the venue as millions of people standing on the both sides of airport road bound to 300 feet welcomed him with chanting slogans.
A festive atmosphere prevailed at the area from airport to 300 feet as enthusiasm and excitement were evident among the activists. Some celebrated Tarique Rahman’s return by waving the national flag, others carried the party symbol Dhaner Shis (Sheaf of Paddy), while some wore colourful attire and beat drums. The people chanted various slogans including ‘Tarique Rahman Asche, Ma-Mati Dakche’, ‘Ajker Ei Din e, Shaheed Zia Mone Pore’, ‘Tomar Amar Marka, Dhaner Shis Marka’, ‘Tarique Rahmaner Agomon, Suveceshha Sagotom’, ‘Desh Neta Asche, Bangladesh Kapche’ etc.
Tarique Rahman also replied them with waiving hand on board the bus, making an extra-ordinary emotional scenario. He reached the public event venue at July 36 Expressway (300-Foot Road) around 3.40pm.
In his address at the mammoth gathering, Tarique Rahman has shared his plan to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh with collective efforts of all, reiterating his call to maintain peace and order at any cost. “We want peace . . . we want to build a safe Bangladesh for all. We have to keep calm and patience in facing any provocation,” he said. He added: “Let us take a pledge to make united efforts to build our expected Bangladesh”.
Referring to a popular quote from US civil right activist Martin Luther King “I Have a dream”, Tarique Rahman said, “I have a plan for the people of my country and for my country.” “Today, this plan is for the interest of the people, for the development of the country, for changing the destiny of the people of this country,” he said.
Tarique Rahman sought people’s cooperation to realize his plan to change the fortune of the countrymen. “If that plan, that course of action, that vision is to be implemented, dear brothers and sisters, from this sea of people present here today, and from all those across Bangladesh who represent the strength of democracy, I will need the cooperation of every single person,” he said.
The day’s historic address by Tarique Rahman coincides with the famous speech of Martin Luther King as both the speeches spanned around 17 minutes. Tarique Rahman said the people of Bangladesh now want to regain their democratic rights and right to speak. “Today the people of Bangladesh want to receive fair rights according to their qualifications. Now is time for everyone to build the country together,” he said. Tarique Rahman presented a vision of a pluralistic and inclusive society.
He spoke of the dream of building a safe Bangladesh through the collective effort of all religious communities—Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, and people from the hills and plains. Senior leaders of BNP and different political parties were in the stage of the mammoth gathering. After addressing the event, Tarique Rahman went to Evercare Hospital to see her ailing mother.
As per his programme schedule, on December 26, Tarique Rahman will leave his residence after Jummah prayers to go to the grave of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and offer prayers for eternal peace of the departed soul of his father. Then he will visit National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar and pay his homage to Liberation War Martyrs there.
On the December 27, he will accomplish his NID card and voter registration process, after which he will visit the grave of Shaheed Osman Hadi and offer munajat. Then he will go to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Pangu Hospital) to see those injured in the July mass uprising. The BNP however has prepared a separate chamber for the Acting Chairman at the Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, according to party sources. A separate chamber has also been allocated for him at the Naya Paltan central office.
The party has also rented a new office space, building number 10/C on Road 90 in Gulshan to manage the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, and it will also include a separate chamber for Tarique Rahman. Tarique Rahman will conduct all party activities from the chamber. He will contest the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election, to be held on February 12 from the Bogura-6 constituency.
History shows that time answers all questions in politics, and this rings true for Tarique Rahman. He once left for the UK for medical treatment under the red eye of so-called one eleven government, living in exile. Today, after a decade and a half, he is returning to the country’s soil after becoming a leader of the masses and a symbol of national unity.
Tarique Rahman’s long political journey was not smooth. During the 2001-2006 administration, a mountain of controversies was intentionally created against him, and numerous lawsuits were filed. The then-opposition party Awami League, the 1/11 government, and an influential segment of civil society consistently leveled accusations against him.
During the infamous 1/11 government, Tarique Rahman was arrested on March 7, 2007. He suffered inhumane physical torture while in remand, leading to severe illness. He was released on bail on September 3, 2008. After 18 months of imprisonment, he went to London for treatment. More than 17 years have passed since then, a long life in exile, without touching the soil of his homeland.
After the Awami League came to power through the election on December 29, 2008, they obstructed the path of democracy by abolishing the caretaker government through the 15th Amendment of constitution on June 30, 2011, thus blocking the path to a fair election. Begum Khaleda Zia was evicted from her house, and autocrat Sheikh Hasina established a coercive regime.
In February 2018, Begum Khaleda Zia was sentenced and imprisoned in a false corruption case. In her absence, Tarique Rahman took the reins of the party from nearly 8,000 kilometers away. He took the responsibility of Acting Chairman from Senior Vice Chairman.
Since then, he has been engaged in the movement to restore democracy in the country, vocal and steadfast against enforced disappearances, killings and torture. The time in exile in the UK was also a period of immense personal hardship for Tarique Rahman. The death of his younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko left him mentally shattered.
Simultaneously, the BNP Chairperson and his mother Begum Khaleda Zia faced imprisonments, illnesses, and medical crises due to political vendetta. In this reality, Tarique Rahman focused steadily on keeping the organization intact from a distant location. Knowing that the fascist ruling class wanted to politically eliminate him, he built a people centered resistance system instead of a self-centered movement, stating clearly, “The path Bangladesh will take will be decided on the streets,” a testament to his patience and composed leadership.
Despite his long exile in the distant UK, he became the central driving force of the BNP in terms of party decisions, strategic planning, and political directives. Tarique Rahman has earned a place in the hearts of leaders and activists at all levels of the party. In his political character, party workers and supporters find legacy of the BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. Leaders and activists say that the main strength of a leader’s leadership lies in their sense of justice and mentality. Tarique Rahman is such a leader, who was the closest even from the farthest distance.
Tarique Rahman’s return home on December 25 is not merely a personal or party event; it marks an emotional and deeply meaningful chapter in Bangladesh’s political history. His return has created new hope among BNP leaders, activists, supporters and even the whole countrymen.
They believe that his return will reorganize the party after a long political stalemate, and simultaneously create a new reality in national politics. It is also believed that under his leadership, democracy and civil rights will return to the country, ushering in a new chapter of political stability.