Hundreds of thousands of BNP supporters gathered in Dhaka to welcome the party's acting chief Tarique Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile. In his first remarks after returning, Rahman called for communal harmony and promised to unveil a plan for Bangladesh.

Dhaka

Tarique Rahman, the acting chair of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of former Prime Minister Khalida Zia, has returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in self-imposed exile. Rahman left for London in 2008, citing medical treatment and alleged torture during a military-backed caretaker government.

His return comes as Bangladesh prepares for national elections under an interim government, following two years of unrest and the ousting of former leader Sheikh Hasina. Rahman, now seen as a front-runner for prime minister if the BNP wins, has been acquitted of major criminal charges since Hasina's removal, and his return has energized his supporters.

Bangladesh's PM front-runner Tarique Rahman returns after 17 years

A plane touches down in Dhaka and with it, a return to Bangladesh's political front line, 17 years in the making. Tariq Rahman, the son of a former Prime Minister and acting chair of the country's main opposition, the BNP, returns from self-imposed exile. He left for London in 2008, seeking medical treatment, after the party says he was tortured in custody during a military-backed caretaker government. Now he's a front-runner to be Bangladesh's next leader. A two-kilometre corridor of supporters lined the route from the airport to his first rally on home soil in almost two decades. Rahman's return comes as Bangladesh heads towards elections in February under an interim government, a vote seen as crucial to restoring stability after two years of unrest. If the BNP wins a majority, he is expected to be put forward as Prime Minister. In this country, people of different religions, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians live together. We want to build together a Bangladesh of the kind that a mother dreams of, a safe and secure Bangladesh. Rahman has led the BNP from London since 2018, after his mother, former PM Khalida Zia, was jailed under then-leader Sheikh Hasina. Hasina was ousted last year in a student-led uprising, clearing the way for the current interim administration, and was recently sentenced to death. With the country at a political crossroads, Rahman's return has energised supporters. After 17 years, his return has given us new hope. We believe his leadership will strengthen our democracy. Rahman has faced numerous criminal charges, but since Hasina's fall, he's been acquitted of the most serious allegations against him, including corruption.

Munitions factories are expected to expand capacity and build new plants as the regime in Pyongyang intensifies weapons development and furthers its ties with Russia.

Pyongyang

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Abuja

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday (December 26) he planned to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump soon and that a lot could be decided before the New Year as Washington pushes diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

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Official results show Asfura edged out his main rival Salvador Nasralla by less than one percentage point. Marred by delays and fraud claims, the Honduran election continues Latin America's shift to the right.

Tegucigalpa

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Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Christmas Mass Wednesday evening where he described the celebration as a feast of "faith, charity and hope". He reminded the faithful that refusing to help the poor and vulnerable is comparable to rejecting God altogether.

Rome

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled progress in a Ukraine-Russia peace plan, after he told journalists about a new draft that would include a free economic zone and demilitarization. Holly Williams has the latest.

Kyiv

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Moscow

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New York

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Bristol

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Wilmington

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Kiev

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Nuuk

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Council of the City of Sydney

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Breakdown