A sexagenarian’s hours-long wait for a glimpse of Tarique Rahman

Abu Taleb was among thousands of Bangladeshis hoping to catch a glimpse of BNP’s acting chief Tarique Rahman on his homecoming after 17 years in exile. By the time he reached Kuril on Thursday morning, the area had already turned into a sea of people.

Unable to move any further, the 60-year-old ditched plans to go on. Instead, he took up a spot on the road divider just before the road merged into the Kuril flyover. It was around 10am.

From Kuril to the venue on the 300 Feet Road—where Tarique Rahman was due to deliver his first in-person speech in Bangladesh in nearly two decades—hundreds of people lined the streets, waiting for hours.

Tarique’s motorcade crossed the Kuril flyover around 2pm. By then, Taleb had spent nearly four hours on his feet, with little chance to sit amid the tightly packed crowd.

Asked why he had gone to such lengths, Taleb pointed to a personal connection.

“I have come to see Tarique Rahman,” he said.

“I work at Sangsad Bhaban (Parliament). I used to see him at the Hawa Bhaban [Tarique’s erstwhile office]. We prayed Fajr together on many occasions. I just wanted to catch a glimpse of him.”

From where he stood, Abu Taleb’s view of Tarique was fleeting at best. The distance barely allowed him a clear look at the BNP leader as the motorcade passed. Still, Taleb was satisfied.

As the vehicle carrying Tarique moved by, Taleb could not contain himself. He burst into loud cheers, responding instinctively as the leader waved to the crowd lining Dhaka’s streets during the season’s first cold wave, acknowledging those who had come to welcome him home.

Asked why he was shouting, Taleb offered a simple explanation.

“He has finally arrived,” he said. “The country will calm down now—you’ll see. I can’t take so much chaos anymore.”

Taleb now works as an outsourced staff member at the Parliament, employed as a messenger. He previously served in the office of then deputy speaker Akhtar Hameed Siddiqui. It was during those years that he had the opportunity to see Tarique up close—encounters he still remembers vividly.

Taleb was not alone. Over the past two days, BNP activists from across Bangladesh have travelled to Dhaka to welcome back their leader. Many told journalists they hoped Tarique would address political and economic uncertainty and help rein in the rising prices of essential goods.

Tarique arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from London at 11:43am on Thursday. After completing immigration and other formalities, he left the airport to attend a reception near the July 36 Expressway, commonly known as the 300 Feet Road, where he addressed party leaders, activists and members of the public.

Following the reception, he was scheduled to visit Evercare Hospital to see his mother, BNP chief and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who has been receiving treatment there since Nov 23. Tarique and his family are expected to stay at a residence on Gulshan Avenue after the hospital visit.

Tarique’s return marks the end of a long period away from the country. On Mar 7, 2007, during the state of emergency, he was arrested by joint forces at his residence on Shaheed Mainul Road in Dhaka Cantonment. Thirteen cases were filed against him. After more than a year in custody, he was released on bail on Sept 11, 2008.

Later that night, citing the need for advanced medical treatment, he left for London with his family, beginning a prolonged exile that lasted 17 years.