The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has completed extensive preparations to welcome its Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, ahead of his return to Bangladesh. A residence and multiple party offices have been readied in Gulshan to facilitate his stay and political activities.
According to party sources, Tarique Rahman will move into House No. 196 on Gulshan Avenue. Adjacent to this residence is “Firoza,” a rented house where BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia currently resides. In addition, a dedicated chamber has been set up for Tarique Rahman at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan. Another house in the same area has also been rented, from where all operational activities related to the upcoming national election will be coordinated.
These details were disclosed at a press conference held on Tuesday at the BNP’s newly rented office located at House No. 10/C, Road No. 90, Gulshan. At the event, Mahadi Amin, adviser to the BNP Acting Chairman, announced a national reel-making competition titled “Bangladesh in My Thoughts” to mark Tarique Rahman’s homecoming.
After 18 consecutive years in exile in London, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to return to Dhaka on 25 December. The BNP has made large-scale arrangements to receive him, with party leaders and activists expected to welcome him upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
BNP insiders said the Gulshan Avenue residence allocated for Tarique Rahman was originally assigned to Khaleda Zia following the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman, based on a unanimous decision of the cabinet led by then President Justice Abdus Sattar. A few months ago, the ownership documents of the house were formally handed over to Khaleda Zia by Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and RAJUK Chairman Riaz-ul-Islam. Preparations at the residence are now nearing completion.
The newly rented BNP office at House No. 10/C on Road No. 90 is a four-storey building with strict security measures. It includes a briefing room on the second floor, designated workspaces for various party departments on other floors, and a research cell.
Addressing the press conference, Mahadi Amin said the office would function as a key BNP operational hub, from where all election-related activities would be managed.
He further said, “As you are aware, BNP Acting Chairman Mr. Tarique Rahman will return to Bangladesh on 25 December, Insha’Allah. His return has generated strong emotion, expectation and enthusiasm among people from all walks of life.” He added that the party believes building a future Bangladesh requires all democracy-minded citizens—beyond political and ideological divides—to work together. He also noted that BNP has already held a week-long consultation in Dhaka on its programme titled ‘Plan for Building the Nation’.
