Zubaida Rahman sets foot on home soil after 17 years

Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's elder son Tarique Rahman, arrived in Dhaka with her mother-in-law this morning.

Her return marks the end of a 17-year absence from Bangladesh.

On September 11, 2008, she left for London with her husband Tarique, acting-chairman of BNP and had remained abroad until now.

Born in Sylhet, Zubaida is the daughter of the late Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali, a former Chief of Naval Staff during the presidency of Ziaur Rahman. He also held ministerial posts, including communications and agriculture, under the regime of Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

She is also the niece of General MAG Osmani, the commander-in-chief of Bangladesh's Liberation War forces.

Thousands of BNP leaders and activists lined the route from the airport to Khaleda Zia's Gulshan residence, "Firoza", to welcome them back following Khaleda Zia's four months of medical treatment in London.

Zubaida and Syeda Sharmila Rahman, wife of Khaleda Zia's youngest son, late Arafat Rahman Koko and the BNP chief's personal physician Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain accompanied the former premier.

According to BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir, preparations at Khaleda Zia's Gulshan-2 residence had been completed ahead of her arrival.

Khaleda Zia herself departed for London on the night of January 7 aboard the same air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar.