Dhaka, Dec. 15 -- Senior BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the party's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will land in Dhaka on Dec 25 "carrying the flag of Bangladesh".

The BNP secretary general made the remark on Monday at a Victory Day discussion meeting, recalling a statement made by a Chinese premier to Tarique in 2002 during a visit by the former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

He recounted the incident: "We travelled to China with our leader Begum Khaleda Zia. Our leader [Tarique Rahman] was also present. When the guard of honour was being accorded to Khaleda Zia at the Great Hall, and the introductions were being made, Tarique Rahman was standing next to a leader beside me.

"When [Khaleda] told the Chinese premier 'He is ...