Staff Reporter :
Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh after nearly fifteen years in exile should be viewed not as a personal triumph or a party success, but as an important chapter in the country’s ongoing democratic journey, said Hasnat Abdullah, chief coordinator (Southern) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), on Thursday.
In an evening post on his verified Facebook page, Hasnat said Tarique’s return underscores a fundamental truth: the right of a Bangladeshi citizen and political leader to come back to his homeland cannot be indefinitely curtailed through state repression.
“Regardless of how dominant an authoritarian system may seem, it can never permanently extinguish the political will of the people,” he wrote.
Recalling the prolonged state persecution faced by Tarique Rahman and his family for their political stance—forcing them into years of exile—Hasnat said this stands as a clear reflection of the authoritarian governance that marked the past decade and a half. He emphasised that Tarique’s return has been made possible by the sacrifices of thousands of martyrs, the suffering of countless injured individuals, and the new political reality forged through a mass uprising. “This reality is not imposed by power, but earned through the spontaneous resistance of the people,” he said.
Hasnat noted that the aspiration in the post-uprising era is to build a Bangladesh where dissent is recognised as a democratic right rather than treated as a criminal act, and where the state safeguards citizens instead of persecuting them for their political beliefs.
He further said that in a renewed Bangladesh, democracy must extend beyond elections alone to include freedom of expression, the right to organise, and a genuinely level playing field for political competition.
Breaking away from the constricted political environment of the last fifteen years, Hasnat said the country is now progressing towards a freer political landscape, with the rule of law and political rights at the heart of the ongoing struggle.
He stressed that this struggle transcends any single individual or political party and that restoring the sovereignty of the people is a collective responsibility of all political actors.
Welcoming Tarique Rahman’s return, Hasnat also expressed his wishes for the recovery and continued guidance of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. He voiced hope that she would regain her health and return to public life to help lead the completion of the unfinished struggle against fascism.
At the same time, he said Tarique Rahman’s active role in shaping a democratic Bangladesh is expected to contribute significantly to fulfilling the people’s aspirations and meeting the demands of history.
