Thousands of supporters poured onto the streets of Dhaka on Thursday to welcome Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman, who returned to the country after more than 17 years of self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom.

Rahman, 60, landed in the capital with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman, marking a major political moment ahead of the February general elections. The son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is currently unwell, Rahman has emerged as a leading contender for the prime minister’s post.

BNP leaders and activists marched on foot from Banani Airport Road towards Dhaka Airport to greet him. According to The Daily Star, the family was accompanied by their pet cat, Zeebu, as well as close aides Abdur Rahman Suny and Kamal Uddin.

After his arrival, Rahman was received by members of the BNP Standing Committee and travelled in one of two specially imported bulletproof vehicles to a reception at the 300 Feet area of Purbachal. Party workers lined both sides of the route to welcome him.

Rahman is expected to address the gathering at the reception, which will be attended by senior BNP leaders and prominent figures, though he will be the sole speaker. The party claims that up to five million people could attend the event.

Following the address, Rahman will visit Evercare Hospital to see his ailing mother, Khaleda Zia, who has been receiving treatment there for more than a month. The family will later proceed to Firoza, the Zia family residence in Gulshan-2.

Dhaka Police have tightened security arrangements amid heightened political tensions, particularly in the wake of violence following the assassination of student leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.

Why is his return significant?

Rahman’s return comes at a time when the BNP appears to be gaining momentum after the ouster of its long-time rival, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, during a student-led uprising last year. Since 1991, power in Bangladesh has largely alternated between Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, aside from brief interim administrations.

A December survey by the US-based International Republican Institute indicated that the BNP is likely to secure the largest number of parliamentary seats, with Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami also in contention. Hasina’s Awami League, which has been barred from contesting the election, has threatened agitation, raising concerns over potential disruption to the polls.

Party sources say Rahman’s decision to return has been driven by both political developments and personal reasons, particularly his mother’s deteriorating health, which necessitated what they describe as an urgent homecoming.