Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's former Prime Minister, has returned to Dhaka after four months of medical treatment in London. Her return increases pressure on the interim government to establish a date for national elections, nine months after Sheikh Hasina's ousting. Zia's presence holds symbolic significance for her party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and supporters celebrated her arrival at the airport. Despite her recent health struggles and a recent Supreme Court acquittal that cleared her of past convictions, Zia remains a central figure in the political landscape of Bangladesh.
Zia's return on Tuesday came at a critical juncture for Bangladesh, which has been governed by an interim administration since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a student-led uprising.
We believe that Khaleda Zia's return will facilitate the path to democratic transition, BNP secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.
Thousands of supporters gathered outside Dhaka's main airport and along the road leading to her house to welcome Zia, who has spent recent years in and out of hospital.
The charges were brought during Hasina's rule and were widely viewed by the BNP as politically motivated.
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