Khaleda Zia returns to Bangladesh after London treatment BNP supporters rally as party chief arrives in Dhaka

Dhaka

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia returned to Dhaka on Tuesday following four months of medical treatment in London. She was accompanied by her two daughters-in-law — Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP’s acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, and Syeda Sharmila Rahman, widow of the late Arafat Rahman Koko. The air ambulance transporting Zia was provided by the Emir of Qatar and landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Tuesday morning.

From the airport to her residence in Gulshan, thousands of BNP supporters lined the streets, chanting slogans such as Welcome Khaleda Zia, Khaleda Zia, fear not, we haven't left the streets, and Tarique Rahman, Khaleda Zia. Security was tightened across the city, with personnel from the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies stationed along the route and outside her home. Zubaida Rahman’s return marks the end of a 17-year exile in London. Local sources confirmed she plans to reside at her father’s home in Dhanmondi. Ahead of her arrival, the BNP had written to the Inspector General of Police, requesting enhanced security for her, citing credible threats due to her family background and political ties.

Khaleda Zia’s homecoming is expected to significantly influence the ongoing political narrative in Bangladesh. The BNP has renewed calls for general elections under an elected government and warned of mass protests if polls are delayed. Pressure is mounting on the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration, with opposition voices demanding a democratic transition. Speaking to reporters at the airport, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Zia’s return marks a crucial moment for the nation. It is a very happy day for the country. Her presence is significant at the time of democratic transition, he stated.