Dhaka: Hundreds of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders and activists gathered in airport area of the city to welcome their chairperson Khaleda Zia as she returned home from the UK on Wednesday afternoon, halting traffic and causing sufferings to commuters.

Leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies assembled in front of the road opposite to the airport holding banners and placards, disrupting the traffic.

The road stretching from the airport to Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden hotel went under the occupation of the BNP followers.

Huge law enforcers were deployed in the area to maintain the law and order.

They were seen calling upon the BNP leaders and activists through loudspeakers to maintain discipline and use footpaths.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir entered the VIP lounge of the airport to welcome Khaleda Zia, who arrived at about 5:05pm.

As senior BNP leaders were not allowed to enter the airport, they gathered in front of the airport mosque.

Talking to reporters, BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed alleged that police were obstructing their leaders and activists from peacefully standing on footpaths in front of the airport.

He said their chairperson returned home showing respect to court as three warrants for her arrest were issued in different cases.

Moudud said Khaleda Zia will surrender before the court and seek bail in the cases in which the arrest warrants were issued against her.

Passengers and their relatives suffered immensely at the airport as the traffic remained halted in the area for a long time.