BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport to return home after 17 years in exile.

He left his London residence with family members for the airport at 8:05pm Bangladesh time on Wednesday.

His flight is scheduled to depart London at 6:15pm local time (12:15am Thursday, Bangladesh time).

According to the schedule, Tarique Rahman will leave London around midnight Bangladesh time and is expected to land in Dhaka at 11:55am on Thursday, if all goes as planned.

He is travelling with his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. Special security arrangements have been put in place for them. Meanwhile, a large number of law enforcement personnel have been deployed in the Purbachal area.

Sources at Biman Bangladesh Airlines said a special A1 seat has been allocated for Tarique Rahman on the London–Dhaka bound flight.

The sources added that he departed his London residence for Heathrow on Wednesday evening and is travelling on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-202, which operates on the London Heathrow–Sylhet–Dhaka route.

The flight is being operated by a Boeing Dreamliner 787-900 aircraft. Due to the presence of a high-profile passenger, additional operational coordination and special preparations have been made.

The BNP is preparing what it describes as the largest reception in its history for its acting chairman. Party leaders expect more than five million leaders and activists to gather in Dhaka.

After arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to head directly to Purbachal, where the BNP is making extensive preparations for a historic reception in his honour.