Name: Huge crowds welcome return of exiled Bangladeshi leader
Uploaded: 2025-12-25T16:14:51.195Z
Duration: 1 min 25 s
Description: Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has returned to the country ahead of general elections in February 2026. He moved to London in 2008 and remained there for 17 years in self-imposed exile.

Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has returned to the country ahead of general elections in February 2026. He moved to London in 2008 and remained there for 17 years in self-imposed exile.

Dhaka

Tariq Rehman, a member of the influential Zia political family and son of Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister Khalid Azir, returned to Bangladesh after almost twenty years in exile in the UK. His return was greeted by large crowds and emotional supporters in Dhaka, who expressed hope for his leadership and the future of the country.

Rehman's return comes ahead of a significant general election following the ousting of former leader Sheikh Hasina. He is widely viewed as the leading candidate to become the next leader of Bangladesh.

Huge crowds welcome return of exiled Bangladeshi leader

On the streets of Dakar, huge crowds come out to welcome Tariq Rehman back to his native Bangladesh after almost two decades in the UK, fleeing what he described as politically motivated persecution. It's hard to put into words how we feel. Today is a moment of immense joy for us. It feels like we are celebrating an Eid. We pray that the Almighty grants him a long life and we hope he can build a new Bangladesh, just as he has dreamed. It's impossible to put into words the feeling of seeing him in person after a long 17 years. We are overwhelmed with emotion. Our activists are also deeply moved. You can see everyone has come out to the field with placards, banners and caps. Rehman comes from a notable political dynasty. The 60-year-old is a member of the Zia family and the son of the country's first female Prime Minister Khalid Azir, who is now in ailing health. He returns to the country ahead of a landmark general election next year, after long-time leader Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power, and he is widely seen as the election front-runner and the next person to lead Bangladesh.

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