The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced plans to mobilize up to five million supporters in the capital to welcome its leader, Tarique Rahman, who is set to return home after nearly 17 years in exile. Rahman, 60, is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and currently serves as the BNP's acting chairman. He is widely viewed as the party's prime ministerial frontrunner for the country's parliamentary elections scheduled for February.

According to party officials, Rahman is expected to arrive in Dhaka on Thursday from London, where he has been living in exile since 2008. The BNP aims to showcase its strength and popularity with a massive show of support for Rahman's return, which is seen as a significant development in the country's politics. "We are preparing for a grand welcome for our leader, and we expect a huge turnout of supporters," said a BNP spokesperson, who wished to remain anonymous.

The BNP's decision to mobilize its supporters comes as the party regains momentum after the removal of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising last year. The party has been seeking to capitalize on the growing discontent among the opposition and the general public, who are dissatisfied with the current government's policies and performance.

Rahman's return is also seen as a significant development in the country's politics, as he is expected to play a key role in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The BNP has been struggling to regain its lost ground in the country's politics, and Rahman's return is seen as a boost to the party's morale and prospects.

The opposition party has been facing stiff competition from the ruling Awami League, which has been in power since 2009. The Awami League has been accused of suppressing opposition voices and dissent, and the BNP has been at the forefront of the opposition movement.

The BNP's plans to mobilize its supporters have been welcomed by many in the opposition, who see it as a significant development in the country's politics. "The BNP's decision to mobilize its supporters is a positive step towards strengthening the opposition movement," said a spokesperson for the Jatiya Oikya Front, a coalition of opposition parties.

The current situation in Bangladesh is volatile, with the opposition and the ruling party engaged in a bitter struggle for power. The country has a history of violent protests and clashes between the opposition and the ruling party, and the situation is likely to remain tense in the coming days.

The BNP's plans to mobilize its supporters are expected to be closely watched by the government and the international community, which has been monitoring the situation in Bangladesh closely. The country's parliamentary elections are scheduled for February, and the outcome is expected to have significant implications for the country's politics and governance.