Rally begins with Quran recitation as party leaders gather ahead of Tarique Rahman’s address

The visits are intended to help him see the country in person after 17 years in exile and reconnect directly with voters and party activists

BNP Standing Committee member AZM Zahid Hossain yesterday said Tarique Rahman, the party's acting chairman, will return to Bangladesh within weeks to lead BNP's election process and the "final stage of restoring democracy".

Stepping into Chuadanga on Sunday afternoon, the first thing that stood out was the absence of “sheaf of paddy”, the electoral symbol of the BNP.