Dhaka, Dec. 26 -- BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has paid his respects at the grave of his father, party founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, marking his first such visit in more than a decade and a half.

Tarique arrived at the mausoleum in Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar shortly before 4:45pm on Friday, accompanied by members of the BNP's Standing Committee. His motorcade had set off from his Gulshan residence around 2:52pm, but progress was slow because of large crowds lining the route.

Standing at the front of a bus decorated in the red and green colours of the party flag, Tarique waved to party leaders and supporters gathered along the roads. Heavy congestion meant the journey of around 8km took more than two and a half hours....