After 11 long years, Barrister Liakot Ali, the UK BNP's legal affairs secretary and a victim of political persecution, has returned to Bangladesh. Upon his arrival at Sylhet Osmani International Airport this afternoon, leaders and activists of Sylhet and Moulvibazar BNP welcomed him with floral greetings.

In a statement, Barrister Liakot Ali expressed his feelings, saying, "I was not allowed to return home simply because I stood for democracy in the UK. That was my crime. During the July Movement, 1,500 people were martyred in Bangladesh. Their blood cannot go in vain. Seven hundred people were forcibly disappeared, and 2,000 were extrajudicially killed. Allah has heard the cries of their families."

He further added that Tarique Rahman has crushed all conspiracies and completed all legal procedures, and he will return to Bangladesh very soon.

[caption id="attachment_2915" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Vice President Syed Abdul Zahir extends floral greetings on behalf of Rajnagar Upazila Krishak Dal[/caption]

Among those present at the occasion were Sylhet District BNP General Secretary Advocate Emran Ahmed Chowdhury, former Moulvibazar District BNP General Secretary and current District Convening Committee member Mizanur Rahman, Sylhet Metropolitan BNP Joint Secretary Mahbubul Haque Chowdhury, Sylhet District BNP Office Secretary Advocate Saeed Ahmed, UK BNP Joint Secretary Advocate Taher Raihan Chowdhury Pavel, Moulvibazar District BNP Member Gazi Maruf, Khalilpur Union Chairman Abu Mia Chowdhury, Moulvibazar District Swechhasebak Dal Joint Convener Amirul Islam Sahed, Co-ordinator of Barrister Liakot Ali Foundation Murshed Ahmed Munna, Abdul Aziz, District Krishak Dal Member and Rajnagar Upazila Krishak Dal Vice President Syed Abdul Zahir, District BNP leader Harunur Rashid, Khalilpur Union BNP leader Emdad Mohammad Siraj, and Moulvibazar District Chhatra Dal Vice President Sheikh Sahed, among others.

Additionally, leaders and activists from Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, Krishak Dal, Swechhasebak Dal, and other affiliated groups were present to greet him.