BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman paid rich tributes to the party’s founder and former president Ziaur Rahman by placing wreaths at his grave at Zia Udyan on Friday afternoon.

Tarique arrived at the mausoleum around 4:40pm and offered prayers, joined by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and senior party leaders and activists.

He had left his Gulshan residence at 2:52pm to attend the programme. After paying homage and completing the ziarat, Tarique was scheduled to proceed to the National Martyrs’ Memorial to pay respect to the heroes of the Liberation War.

A large number of BNP leaders, activists and supporters gathered at the mausoleum area to mark Tarique Rahman’s visit.

Tarique returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after nearly 17 years in exile. He arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11:43am aboard a Bangladesh Biman flight (BG-202), travelling from London via Sylhet. He was accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and their only daughter, Zaima Rahman.

Although the journey from the airport to Purbachal’s 300 Feet Road usually takes less than half an hour in light traffic, it took Tarique nearly three hours on Thursday due to massive crowds lining both sides of the road.

Party leaders and activists, along with ordinary people, thronged the route—many eager to catch a glimpse of Tarique Rahman after his long absence, others keen to witness what they described as a historic return. The six-and-a-half-kilometre stretch from the airport to the reception venue turned into a sea of people.