Aspiring prime minister and political heavyweight Tarique Rahman was welcomed back to Bangladesh on Thursday by huge crowds of joyous supporters after 17 years in self-imposed exile.
Rahman, the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and heir apparent of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), shook hands with party leaders after touching down at the Dhaka airport. Accompanied by his wife and daughter, a visibly emotional Rahman took off his shoes, stood on the grass outside the airport and scooped up the soil as a mark of reverence. He waved to supporters before ducking into a convoy under tight security, video posted by his party showed.
Since early Thursday, BNP backers started gathering in the capital, plastering the streets with banners and festoons bearing images of Rahman.
Patriotic songs blared from loudspeakers while cut-outs depicted the 60-year-old politician riding a stallion.
Alamgir Hossain, a BNP supporter, said the country was in a “dire situation” and that only Rahman “can fix it”.
Rahman left Bangladesh for London in 2008 after what he has described as political persecution.
As acting chairman of the BNP, Rahman will lead the party through the February 12 general election, the first polls since ex-premier Sheikh Hasina’s exit following a student-led uprising last year.