"Hundreds of thousands of supporters lined the route from the capital's airport to the reception venue, waving party flags and carrying placards, banners and flowers, while chanting slogans welcoming Rahman, as senior BNP leaders received him at the airport under tight security. Dressed in a light grey, finely chequered blazer over a crisp white shirt, Rahman waved to the crowd with a smile."
"Rahman had been unable to return to Bangladesh while facing multiple criminal cases at home. He was convicted in absentia on charges that included money laundering and in a case linked to an alleged plot to assassinate Hasina, but the rulings were overturned after Hasina was ousted last year in a student-led uprising, clearing the legal barriers to his return."
"The BNP earlier said it aims to gather up to five million supporters in the capital to welcome Rahman, for what it called an unprecedented mobilisation. Rahman is widely viewed as the prime ministerial frontrunner in February's general election. His arrival comes as the BNP regains momentum after the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina."
Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka after almost 17 years in exile and is positioned as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's acting chairman and a leading prime ministerial candidate for February's election. Massive crowds lined the route from the airport, waving flags, carrying placards and chanting slogans as senior BNP leaders received him under heavy security. He lived in London since fleeing in 2008 and faced multiple criminal convictions in absentia, including money laundering and an alleged assassination plot; those rulings were overturned following the 2024 ouster of Sheikh Hasina, removing legal barriers to his return. His visit includes plans to visit his ailing mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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