New twist in anarchical Bangladesh politics, BNP supremo and former prime minister Begum Zia returns home with two daughter in laws
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, May 6, 2025
In a new dimension to turbulent Bangladesh politics , the BNP chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia today returned home from London, accompanied by her two daughter in laws after undergoing for nagging old age ailments in London. Reports from Bangladesh said that Begum Khaleda Zia reached her Gulshan residence from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, as she returned from London along with her two daughters-in-law: Tarique Rahman’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and late Arafat Rahman Koko’s wife Syeda Shamila Rahman.A vehicle with Khaleda seated in the front seat, while her two daughters-in-law occupied the rear seats, left the airport around 11:15am and reached her house, Firoza, around 1:25pm amid tight security measures.
A Qatari royal air ambulance carrying Khaleda and her entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:42am, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.Khaleda returned home after nearly four months of advanced treatment in London, while Zubaida returned, ending her 17-year exile in London following her involvement in a number of corruption cases during the ousted Awami League regime. The BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with several senior party leaders, welcomed Khaleda at the airport.The special air ambulance, provided by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, departed Heathrow Airport at around 9:35pm on Monday, carrying Khaleda and her entourage. It reached Dhaka after a stopover in Qatar.
The leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies welcomed her, standing along the footpaths stretching from Airport Road to Gulshan Avenue to greet their beloved leader and party chief.BNP supporters began assembling along both sides of the nearly 10-kilometre route from early morning, holding national and party flags to welcome Khaleda on her return.
Sources from Bangladesh said that BNP , supposedly the natural successor to power after the ouster of Awami League , is now on a political upswing after the return of its top leaders in strength.It is only Tareque Rahaman , elder and only surviving son of Begum Zia and her assassinated husband and former Bangladesh president Ziaur Rahaman whose return is now awaited. He has of course been cleared of all the criminal cases and convictions against him by the interim government. Sources said that Tareque Rahaman will be the BNP’s prime ministerial candidate as and when election happens and will also campaign for the party.
Already the BNP has mounted pressure on the interim government for early elections to form a new and legitimately elected government. Most significantly, the BNP has been playing its political cards discreetly ever since the forced ouster of Awami League and deposition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina by maintaining silence on relations with India but implying that it is prepared to work with India in normal relationship. A senior party leader Ruhul Kavir Rizvi who had made irresponsible off-the-cuff remarks on India has been reprimanded by the party’s top leadership and silenced.
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