The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has formally requested the Ministry of Railways to operate special trains on multiple routes to facilitate the arrival of supporters for the homecoming of its acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

In a letter sent to the railway secretary on Thursday, the BNP detailed plans to bring “a vast number of students and citizens” to the capital for a grand reception, said a press release.

Tarique is expected to set foot on Bangladeshi soil on 25 December, ending a 17-year exile in London.

The party has requested one special train or additional carriages for seven major routes, including high-capacity corridors such as Cox’s Bazar–Dhaka, Sylhet–Dhaka, and Rajshahi–Dhaka.

These services are requested for the night of 24 December to ensure supporters can reach the capital by the following morning.

“Our acting chairman is returning home after nearly two decades of exile,” a party spokesperson noted, adding that the BNP is prepared to pay all required government fares for the reservations.

This request follows a similar precedent set earlier this year in July, when the railway ministry approved special trains for other political gatherings on a commercial basis.

Tarique’s return is seen as a pivotal moment for the BNP as the nation prepares for general elections, which reports suggest could be held as early as February 2026.

The party has already urged supporters to maintain discipline during the homecoming celebrations to ensure public order.