BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is going to stay with her family in Bangladesh in a free atmosphere after years as she is returning home with her two daughters-in-law today.

The country is finally going to see an emotional reunion of the Zia family today, while four members of the family still stay in London. After the death of Khaleda Zia’s younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, the Zia family contains seven members now. The BNP leaders and activists are fully prepared to welcome in a grand manner their leader Khaleda Zia, who is returning from London this morning after four months of medical treatment there.

The air ambulance carrying Khaleda Zia, along with her entourage – including Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of her elder son Tarique Rahman, and Syeda Sharmila Rahman, wife of her late son Arafat Rahman Koko – left Heathrow Airport at 9:35pm (Bangladesh time) on Monday.

The flight, provided by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at approximately 10am on Tuesday after a short stopover in Doha. Khaleda Zia is also accompanied by her other entourage that includes her medical team.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman personally drove the car carrying his mother, wife and sister-in-law to Heathrow Airport and saw them off there.

Zubaida Rahman is returning home after 17 years from London as she left the country with her husband Tarique Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman on 11 September 2008.

Sharmila Rahman is returning home after four months as she accompanied Khaleda Zia when she left Dhaka for London in January this year.

“However, we don’t know when Tarique Rahman, his daughter Zaima Rahman and two daughters of Arafat Rahman Koko – Zafia Rahman and Zahia Rahman – will return home,” BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Private Secretary ABM Abdus Satter told the Daily Sun.

BNP insiders said Tarique Rahman along with Zaima Rahman will return home just before the next parliamentary election is held. The party leaders think that there is security concern for the BNP acting chairman as the country’s law and order situation is not satisfactory under the current interim government.

At the same time, Zafia Rahman and Zahia Rahman will also come to the country at a convenient time. They came to Dhaka from Britain in 2023 to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their grandmother Khaleda Zia.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told newsmen, “We hope that she (Khaleda Zia) will reach Dhaka on time.”

He urged the party men not to create any traffic congestion on the BNP chairperson’s route from the airport to her Gulshan residence as the SSC exam is scheduled to be held on the same day.

“I would like to appeal to the leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated organisations to ensure that no one stands on the road, does not disrupt traffic, and does not obstruct the candidates from going to the examination centre,” he said.

“Those who will welcome madam should stand on the sidewalk and greet her. We have instructed the party leaders and activists to welcome her with the national and BNP flags in their hands,” said Fakhrul adding that, “I want to urge the police authorities and those who are involved in traffic to not let anyone stand on the road.”

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press briefing held at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka on Sunday delineated the specific route for the party men to stand for welcoming their leader.

Rizvi emphasised, “All leaders and activists will stand on one side of the road, holding the national and party flags. No motorcycles will be permitted to accompany the chairperson’s car, nor will anyone be allowed to walk alongside it.”
He further clarified, “Apart from this, no one will be allowed to enter the airport premises or the residence of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.”

ABM Abdus Satter said Feroza is fully ready for Khaleda Zia. Zubaida Rahman will stay at her parental house ‘Mahbub Bhaban’ in Dhanmondi and Sharmila Rahman will stay at her parental house in Banani old DOHS.

Earlier, on Saturday night, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party had completed all preparations to welcome Khaleda Zia with due reverence as she returns home after months of medical treatment.
The BNP secretary general also urged the general public to use the elevated expressway from the airport to Kakoli today to avoid traffic congestion.
Feroza prepared for Khaleda Zia

BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan said Khaleda’s Gulshan residence Feroza has been cleaned and readied as she is returning home.

“Madam’s house is completely ready. Electricity, gas, WASA, cleanliness of the courtyard, decoration, nothing has been left out,” he told the Daily Sun.
“Madam’s relatives have supervised everything. Now we are all waiting for madam,” he added.

Feroza – house-1 on road-80 in Gulshan – is surrounded by walls on all sides, with rooms for security forces in front. The police and members of the Chairperson’s Security Force (CSF) are guarding it in turns.

Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in 2018 by the ousted autocratic Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government following a conviction in a fabricated graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

In March 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the government temporarily released her on an executive order, suspending her sentence on condition that she remain at her Gulshan residence and not leave the country.

On 6 August 2023, Khaleda Zia was fully freed by an order from President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

Zubaida Rahman to stay in Mahbub Bhaban of Dhanmondi

Mahbub Bhaban – located on Road-5 of Dhanmondi – is the residence of Zubaida Rahman’s father, former Navy Chief Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan. She will be staying there after her return to the country.

BNP Media Cell member Atikur Rahman Ruman told the Daily Sun that security and renovation works have been completed at the residence.

He said extensive security measures have been taken at the residence, including the installation of CCTV cameras and the deployment of the police and BNP Chairperson’s Special Security Force (CSF) personnel.

“Tarique Rahman has specifically instructed that no security arrangement should cause inconvenience to neighbours. We’ve been clearly told to avoid any disturbance to surrounding residents. The chairman wants everything done with care and respect,” he added.

Ruman further said separate vehicles and a security team have been arranged for Dr Zubaida during her stay in Bangladesh.

BNP Chairperson’s Private Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar in a letter sent to the IGP of Bangladesh Police on 30 April sought security for Zubaida Rahman.

Zubaida, who was completing doctor of medicine (third part) at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, went to London with her husband and daughter in September 2008.

Koko’s wife Sharmila Rahman came to the country several times due to different reasons, including taking care of her mother-in-law Khaleda Zia, but Tarique’s wife Zubaida Rahman couldn’t come to the country for over the last one and a half decade due to the fascist government.