Photo: BSS

By Md Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, Dec 24, 2025 (BSS) - Around five lakh BNP leaders, activists and 
supporters have left Rangpur division for Dhaka to witness the royal return 
of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, a symbol of democracy and people's 
hopes and aspirations.

Tomorrow, December 25, Tarique Rahman's return to his homeland will end his 
18-year exile that was conspiratorially imposed on him to undermine the 
country's independence and sovereignty.

Tarique Rahman will be given a grand reception on the occasion of his 'return 
to his homeland' in the 300-foot area of Purbachal in the capital city 
tomorrow. 

Along with BNP leaders and activists, the news of Tarique Rahman's return to 
Bangladesh has created great enthusiasm, hope and desire among the common 
people of all walks of life in the eight districts of Rangpur division, like 
other parts of the country.

Senior joint convener of Rangpur metropolitan BNP and former general 
secretary of Carmichael College Central Students Union Md Shahidul Islam Mizu 
told BSS that at least 50,000 BNP leaders and activists from Rangpur will 
attend the grand reception of Tarique Rahman in Dhaka tomorrow. 

The leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliates will join the reception 
event in Dhaka by bus, microbus, train and personal transport. Several 
thousand leaders and activists have already reached Dhaka and taken up 
residence in various places. 
 
In fact, a festive atmosphere prevails among the party leaders and activists 
of all eight upazilas in Rangpur district and Rangpur division as a whole 
centered on Tarique Rahman's return to his homeland. 

"Meanwhile, thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated 
organisations from various parts of all eight districts of Rangpur division 
have started going to Dhaka city. Many have been staying in Dhaka for the 
last two days," Mizu added. 
 
According to Rangpur district and metropolitan BNP sources, each of the 
party-nominated six candidates in the six constituencies of Rangpur has made 
preparations to gather in Dhaka with at least 5,000 leaders, activists and 
supporters. 

 
Two days before the grand occasion of Tarique Rahman's return home, BNP 
leaders, activists and supporters have started going to Dhaka by bus, train 
and microbus on the initiative of the parliamentary candidates from various 
upazilas. 
 
Most of the leaders and activists going to the reception ceremony are going 
in groups. Party leaders are paying for their hotel and mess accommodation in 
Dhaka and other expenses. 
 
Some have also traveled to Dhaka in advance on their own initiative or by 
their preferred means of transport to see the 'historic return' of their 
beloved leader. 

To make this moment of remembrance memorable by welcoming Tarique Rahman, BNP 
grassroots leaders and activists are holding processions and meetings in 
cities, ports, markets and villages daily in the past few days. 

Senior joint convener of Rangpur metropolitan Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal Md Jahir 
Alam Nayan said that the organisation has been holding congratulatory 
processions in Rangpur city for several days, welcoming BNP acting chairman 
Tarique Rahman to his homeland. 

"Many of our leaders and activists have already left in advance to join 
tomorrow's grand reception of Tarique Rahman in Dhaka city. Some are 
currently staying in Dhaka and the others left Rangpur today for Dhaka city," 
he said.

In the preparatory meetings, it has been decided that leaders and activists 
of the metropolitan, thana and ward committees will go to Dhaka in groups, 
apart from individual initiatives, by bus, train, and other means of 
transport. 

In addition, leaders and activists from different parts of the district have 
started their journey to Dhaka. Some are going by party transport, some on 
personal initiatives. 

Member-secretary of Rangpur metropolitan Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal Nur 

Hasan Sumon said that the people will be freed from the crisis in which 
Bangladesh is in through Tarique Rahman's return to his homeland. 
 
For this reason, there is a kind of joy and excitement not only among the 
party members but also among the common people. 
 
"For us, rickshaw pullers, van drivers, ordinary businessmen, young people 
and those who are not involved in politics also want to go to Dhaka with us 
and see Tarique Rahman up close. This desire of people is inspiring our 
leaders and supporters," he said. 

For this reason, in addition to the group, many will go to Dhaka on their own 
initiative to welcome their beloved leader. So far, hundreds of our leaders 
and activists have gone from Rangpur to Dhaka in several buses and 
microbuses.  

The leaders and activists are leaving for Dhaka in several hundred hired 
minibuses, coaches, microbuses and special trains from Rangpur city and 
Sadar, Pirganj, Mithapukur, Kawnia, Pirgachha, Gangachara, Badarganj and 
Taraganj upazilas of the district.
 
BNP and its affiliated organizations have also formed a coordination team at 
the field level to maintain party discipline regarding the journey to and 
from Dhaka. 

Talking to BSS, the ticket counter managers and employees at the Kamarpara 
Dhaka bus stand in Rangpur metropolis said that at least a hundred buses 
travel daily from Rangpur to Dhaka day and night. Advance tickets for most of 
the buses have been sold. 
 
Similarly, after checking at the Rangpur Railway Station, it was learned that 
there are no advance tickets. 
 
Wasim Bari Raj, general secretary of the Rangpur District Motor Owners 
Association, said that 25 buses have been reserved from the owner's 
association for transportation of leaders and workers of BNP and its 
affiliated organisations to Dhaka. 

 "Hundreds of people are heading to Dhaka from Rangpur to attend Tarique 
Rahman's homecoming ceremony. Now it is difficult to find empty transport 
anywhere. The situation is not only with buses, but also with other 
transport," he said. 

Rangpur District Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal president Nazmul Alam Naju said, if 
5,000 leaders and activists are taken into account from each of the six 
constituencies of Rangpur district, the number of people comes to 30,000. 

He said, "We assume that at least 50,000 BNP leaders, workers, supporters, 
and ordinary students and the public will travel to Dhaka from Rangpur 
tomorrow to join the historic moment of Tarique Rahman's return to his 
homeland."

Kawnia Upazila BNP convener and Rangpur-4 constituency MP candidate Emdadul 
Haque Bharsha is currently staying in Dhaka. 

He said that there are two upazilas in my constituency. He has taken the 
initiative to carry the party leaders and activists and his supporters to 
Dhaka by various means of transport including buses, microbuses and trains. 

"Like me, the other five BNP-nominated MP candidates in the district have 
also made arrangements to transport leaders and activists from their 
respective constituencies to Dhaka and bear the overall expenses, including 
food and drinks," he said.
 
"We believe that the 300-foot area of Purbachal in the capital will tomorrow 
turn into an ocean of people to welcome Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh's most 
popular leader and a symbol of democracy and development," he said.