The much-anticipated return of Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to his homeland remains shrouded in uncertainty.
While his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, recently traveled to Bangladesh with Begum Khaleda Zia, sources close to the family have confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that Tarique Rahman is expected to return to Bangladesh in the near future.
Multiple reliable sources indicate that Tarique Rahman's continued absence from Bangladesh is influenced by a combination of factors, most notably ongoing security concerns.
Additionally, insiders suggest that the BNP's acting chairman is closely monitoring the prevailing economic instability and law and order challenges within Bangladesh.
There is a palpable sense of caution, with Tarique Rahman keen to avoid any perception that the BNP or his leadership bears responsibility for these national difficulties.
Tarique Rahman is reportedly maintaining a firm grip on the party's direction and engaging with the political landscape of Bangladesh through virtual means.
Video calls have become his primary tool for communicating with party leaders and strategizing on political matters, highlighting the challenges of leading a major opposition party from exile.
The reliance on digital communication underscores the complex circumstances surrounding his continued stay in London and the indefinite nature of his return to Bangladesh.
Regarding when Tarique Rahman may return to Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia's physician and a member of the party's standing committee, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, said in March that the BNP acting chairman will return to Bangladesh before the next parliamentary elections.
He further stated that Tarique’s return to the country is only a matter of time.