Dhaka: Tariq Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has returned to Bangladesh after nearly 17 years in exile, greeted by hundreds of thousands of supporters at the Dhaka airport. The return of Rahman is viewed as a significant boost to his popularity ahead of the February elections, where he is a leading candidate for prime minister. According to Thai News Agency, Rahman, 60, has been residing in London since 2008 and has managed the BNP from abroad since 2018. His return was marked by a symbolic gesture as he stepped barefoot onto Bangladeshi soil and collected a handful of it. This homecoming was made possible after charges against him, including money laundering and an assassination plot, were overturned following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by student uprisings last year. The political environment in Bangladesh has seen rapid changes since Hasina stepped down, ending her alternating rule with Khaleda Zia. A survey by the Institute for International Rep ublics (IRI) suggests that the BNP is poised to win the most seats in the upcoming February 12th elections. In contrast, Hasina's Awami League party has been excluded from the election, and there are threats of unrest from them, which raises concerns regarding the elections under the caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Rahman's return also carries personal significance as his mother, Khaleda Zia, is seriously ill. He is expected to visit her immediately following the welcoming ceremony. Amidst a fragile political climate marked by violence and threats to press freedom, Rahman's return is seen as pivotal in Bangladesh's political transition, a process drawing significant international attention.