Tarique Rahman - NEWS Of KASHMIR

Last Thursday became one of the most emotional days of my life—the day I returned to the soil of my homeland after 17 long years. The warmth of your welcome, the sea of people lining the streets of Dhaka, and the prayers of millions will forever remain etched in my heart.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

I offer my deepest gratitude to everyone. Words are not enough to express the love, respect, and dignity that my family and I felt during this homecoming. To our supporters who stood firm through every hardship and never lost hope—your courage and resilience continue to inspire me.

I sincerely thank members of civil society, the youth, professionals, farmers, workers, and citizens from all walks of life. You have once again reminded us that the true strength of Bangladesh lies in its people—especially when they stand united.

I am also grateful to the media for covering this historic moment with responsibility and professionalism, and to all those who ensured peace, safety, and calm during my return. Your service to the nation is deeply valued.

My appreciation also extends to leaders of other political parties and movements who welcomed my return. I respect their thoughtful reflections that highlighted democracy, multiparty coexistence, and the enduring will of the people. I am thankful for the hope expressed for a peaceful, democratic political culture and for calls to move beyond politics rooted in vengeance. I receive these sentiments with humility.

When I addressed the nation, I spoke not merely of a dream, but of a clear plan for Bangladesh’s future—a future where peace and dignity flourish, where every community feels safe and respected, and where every child grows with hope and opportunity.

This vision is for all Bangladeshis.
A united Bangladesh.
An inclusive Bangladesh.
A Bangladesh that moves forward—together.

Thank you for welcoming me home.
May Allah bless Bangladesh and all of you, now and always.

You Might Also Like:

Al-Tilmeez: A Pioneering Arabic Literary Journal from Jammu and Kashmir

Professor Mufti Abdul Ghani Azhari: Scholar, Sufi, Historian, and Social Reformer of Kashmir

Mirwaiz Mohammad Ahmad son of Mufasir-e-Quran Moulana Mohammad Yousuf Shah Dies in Islamabad, Pakistan

Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, returned to Dhaka after nearly 17 years in self-imposed exile in London. Accompanied by his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, and daughter, Zaima Rahman, he arrived via a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, landing first in Sylhet before reaching Dhaka around noon. The return marks a pivotal moment ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for February 2026.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Thousands of BNP supporters gathered to welcome him, with the party organizing a massive reception along the 300-foot road in Purbachal. Security was heightened, including restrictions at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Rahman addressed supporters briefly before visiting his ailing mother, Khaleda Zia, who is receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital.

Background and Time in Exile

Tarique Rahman, born in 1965, is the eldest son of former President Ziaur Rahman (assassinated in 1981) and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He rose to prominence in the BNP during the early 2000s, often seen as his mother’s political heir.

In 2007, during a military-backed caretaker government, he was arrested on corruption charges and spent 18 months in prison, alleging torture. Released on bail in September 2008, he left for the UK for medical treatment and did not return amid multiple convictions under the subsequent Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina. These included money laundering, corruption, and a life sentence (in absentia) for the 2004 grenade attack on a Hasina rally—charges he denied as politically motivated.

From London, Rahman remotely led the BNP, becoming acting chairman in 2018 after his mother’s imprisonment. He used virtual platforms and social media to direct party strategy, despite restrictions like bans on broadcasting his speeches in Bangladesh. In 2015, he registered a PR firm in the UK. His exile lasted through the fall of Hasina’s government in a 2024 student-led uprising.

Following Hasina’s ouster and the installation of an interim government under Muhammad Yunus, Rahman was acquitted in all pending cases (around 84), clearing the path for his return.

Significance of the Return

Rahman’s homecoming is both personal—driven by his mother’s serious illness—and political. With the Awami League barred from the upcoming elections and the BNP positioned as frontrunner, he is widely viewed as a potential prime minister candidate. He plans to contest from Bogura-6 and lead the party’s campaign.

The event symbolizes BNP’s resurgence amid Bangladesh’s ongoing transition, though challenges like sporadic violence and competition from groups like Jamaat-e-Islami persist. Observers note it tests the interim government’s ability to ensure fair polls.