Overview
- He landed in Dhaka on Dec. 25 with his wife and daughter and was greeted by throngs of BNP supporters lining the route to a reception on the 300 Feet road in Purbachal.
- Higher courts have overturned his major convictions, and the interim government facilitated his travel with a single-use pass, removing barriers to his political comeback.
- Rahman, the BNP’s acting chairman, is widely viewed as its leading prime ministerial contender for the Feb. 12 election, with the Awami League barred and an interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus in place.
- Authorities deployed thousands from the army, Border Guard Bangladesh and police, restricted drones and photography near sensitive sites, and Rahman moved in a bulletproof convoy before heading to visit his critically ill mother, Khaleda Zia.
- His return followed the killing of student leader Osman Hadi and unrest that saw arson at media outlets, hostility near Indian missions and a visa suspension in Chattogram, fueling concerns about election stability.