Dhaka, Dec. 25 -- BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has marked his return home after nearly 18 years in exile with a symbolic gesture, stepping barefoot onto the dew-covered grass outside the VIP lounge at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-202 carrying Tarique landed at 11:43am on Thursday.

He was welcomed at the airport's VIP Lounge by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the standing committee.

After completing immigration formalities, Tarique stepped outside, removed his shoes and touched the soil of the country and the dew-soaked grass. He then picked up a handful of soil before leaving the airport area on a bus decorated in green and red, the colours of the...