From Airport to Firoza, Crowds on the Road

After four months of long treatment, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia returned home from London. After landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:40 am on Tuesday, she left for her Gulshan residence 'Firoza' by road. At that time, thousands of leaders and activists standing on the road welcomed her with flowers, banners, placards and slogans.

Standing on both sides of the highway, leaders and activists, some holding flowers in their hands, some wearing T-shirts with Khaleda Zia's picture, some holding national and party flags, kept chanting slogans—"Khaleda Zia's arrival, welcome", "Khaleda Zia is not afraid, I have not left the highway", "Tareq Rahman", "Let's walk the path of democracy"—the important roads of the capital became alive with slogans like these.

Central and local leaders and activists of various BNP organizations have been taking positions from Airport Road to 'Firoza' in Gulshan since morning. Many of them welcomed the party leader in pickups, buses or microbuses, playing songs and playing music, holding flags and banners. Some could be seen wearing bands or flags with the party's logo on their heads.

Mahmudul Haque Himel, the rural development and cooperative affairs secretary of the Jubo Dal's central committee, said, "Dessenter Begum Khaleda Zia has returned to the country, this time democracy will also return to Bangladesh. We are on the streets and will remain. We are moving forward on the path of a mass movement like in the '90s."

Abubakar Siddique Pavel, the fisheries and animal husbandry affairs secretary, said, "Khaleda Zia's arrival is a ray of hope for us. Our journey on the path of democracy will accelerate. Tareq Zia will return soon, and Bangladesh will return to the democratic path again."

Meanwhile, strict security measures have been taken across the capital in view of Khaleda Zia's arrival. Law enforcement officers have been deployed on the route from the airport to Gulshan to prevent any chaos. A security cordon has been set up around Firoza in Gulshan. Traffic has been stopped on the road in front of the residence and only pedestrians are allowed to move there. Law enforcement officers, including the army, are on guard.

The excitement surrounding Khaleda Zia's return to the country after a long stay in London for medical treatment is being seen by BNP leaders as an expression of grassroots confidence in the party. According to them, Khaleda Zia's presence will bring new momentum to the movement and signal a major change in the political landscape.