Bangladesh Opposition Leader Returns Home After 17 Years, Draws Massive Crowds

Bangladesh Opposition Leader Returns Home After 17 Years, Draws Massive Crowds

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

DHAKA (Worthy News)— Bangladesh opposition leader Tarique Rahman has returned home after 17 years in exile, pledging safety, justice, and national unity if he becomes the troubled nation’s next leader following elections expected in February.

Rahman arrived in Dhaka from London, where he had lived in exile in the United Kingdom since 2008, according to party officials.

Hundreds of thousands of supporters welcomed the aspiring prime minister in the capital, Dhaka, lining roads from the airport and gathering for a mass rally, opposition sources said. Authorities did not release an official crowd estimate.

“Today, I want to say that I have a plan for my country — a safe state that people have long hoped for,” Rahman, 60, said in his first speech after returning.
“It is time we build a country together. This country belongs to the people in the hills and the plains, to Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and Hindus,” he added.

Witnesses said a visibly emotional Rahman removed his shoes, stood on the grass outside the airport, and scooped up soil as a gesture of reverence for his homeland. He waved to supporters before entering a convoy under tight security, according to a video released by his party.

Rahman is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and serves as acting chairman of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the country’s largest political movements.

VIOLENT POLITICAL UNREST

He left Bangladesh in 2008 amid violent political unrest and a series of corruption and security-related cases brought against senior opposition figures.

Rahman settled in London, where he remained in self-imposed exile while denying wrongdoing and accusing successive governments of using the courts to sideline political opponents.

Authorities have defended the cases as lawful prosecutions.

If Rahman succeeds politically, analysts say he would face deep-rooted challenges, including restoring trust in democratic institutions after years of disputed elections, tackling corruption and economic pressures, easing political polarization, and improving human rights protections.

Bangladesh ranks 151st out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, underscoring persistent governance concerns.

With about 170 million people living in a territory roughly the size of Greece, Bangladesh is the world’s eighth-most populous nation, adding to concerns about social and economic pressures ahead.

MANY ISLAM FOLLOWERS

About 90 percent of the population adheres to Islam, with Hindus forming the largest minority, followed by Buddhists and Christians, who comprise well under one percent of the population, according to official data.

That has raised concern among advocacy groups.

The Open Doors World Watch List ranks Bangladesh 24th worldwide among countries where Christians face the highest levels of pressure and persecution.

While Rahman emphasized inclusivity for all religious and faith communities, it remained unclear whether his return would improve conditions for Christians, who rights groups say face sporadic discrimination and violence. Rahman did not announce specific policies addressing their situation in his initial remarks.

Despite the celebratory scenes, observers caution that it remains uncertain whether Rahman’s return will ease Bangladesh’s long-running political and social tensions or intensify rivalry ahead of the elections.

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