admin
The BNP is set to give a warm and elaborate welcome to its Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is returning to Dhaka from London on Tuesday morning after four months of medical treatment. She will be accompanied by her daughters-in-law, Dr. Zubaida Rahman and Syeda Sharmila Rahman.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the details at a press conference at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan on Sunday. He said thousands of BNP leaders and activists would line the road from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Khaleda Zia’s residence in Gulshan, known as “Firoza,” to welcome her home.
Originally scheduled to arrive on Monday, Khaleda Zia’s return has been delayed by a day. She will now land at 10:30 am on Tuesday. Her arrival will mark the end of a lengthy medical stay in the UK, where she traveled on January 8 in an air ambulance arranged by the Emir of Qatar.
To ensure an organized and smooth reception, the BNP has assigned specific segments of the airport-to-Gulshan route to its various wings. BNP’s Dhaka North unit will be stationed from the airport to Le Meridien Hotel; Chhatra Dal will take position up to Khilkhet, followed by Jubo Dal, Shechchhasebak Dal, Krishak Dal, and Sramik Dal along designated stretches. From Banani to Gulshan-2, different affiliated and professional bodies including Mohila Dal and the National Executive Committee will join.
Leaders and activists from outside Dhaka will also take positions along the route. All participants have been instructed to stand on one side of the road, hold national and party flags, and avoid crowding around Khaleda Zia’s car. No motorcycles or walking alongside the vehicle will be permitted.
The BNP has also urged supporters to avoid entering the airport or Khaleda Zia’s residence and asked the public to use the elevated expressway on Tuesday to ease traffic.
The air ambulance carrying Khaleda Zia is scheduled to depart from Heathrow at 6:15 pm (London time) and make a stop in Doha before reaching Dhaka. BNP has requested law enforcement to ensure security at both Firoza in Gulshan and Dr. Zubaida Rahman’s ancestral home in Dhanmondi. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police will provide an escort from the airport.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir emphasized that all arrangements had been made to receive Khaleda Zia with dignity and urged everyone to avoid any disruption along the way.
