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Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has expressed his gratitude to the nation after returning home, ending an exile that lasted over 17 years.
At 1:40pm on Thursday, while en route to a reception stage on Purbachal's July 36 Expressway, commonly known as the 300 Feet Road, to address a massive gathering of supporters, the BNP acting chairman wrote on Facebook: "Thankful to all."
The post was accompanied by four photographs showcasing the heavy security cordons and the jubilant crowds surrounding his motorcade as it departed the airport.
As Tarique’s convoy moved slowly away from the terminal, supporters lining both sides of the road chanted a continuous stream of slogans, reports bdnews24.com.
The route from the airport through Kuril to the 300 Feet Road has been teeming with people, eager to catch a glimpse of Tarique as he returns home after a long exile.
The area around the reception venue is packed, with supporters arriving overnight and in the early hours despite the cold, while others stand along both sides of the road.
The reception venue had reached capacity well before dawn, as small processions merged into a vast "sea of people." As one group paused its chanting, another would immediately take up the call.
The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG-202) carrying Tarique touched down at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport at 11:43am on Thursday.
He was received at the VIP lounge by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the party’s Standing Committee.
From the airport, the acting BNP chairman phoned Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to express his thanks for the security arrangements and the logistical support provided for his return.
He stepped out into an open area of the airport grounds upon completing immigration formalities. In a symbolic gesture, he removed his shoes to feel the touch of the soil and the dew-dampened grass of his homeland.
He subsequently boarded a bus decorated in the red and green colours of the national flag, heading towards the 300 Feet Road to attend the scheduled reception.