Former Bangladeshi premier Sheikh Hasina Wajed returned home Thursday after five months abroad for medical treatment to lead her party in December parliamentary elections.

Police said at least 100,000 supporters packed the route to the airport to greet her after the emergency government this week lifted all curbs on political rallies ahead of the first polls in seven years.

`She has just landed in Dhaka on an Emirates flight,` said airport police chief Sirajul Islam.

Sheikh Hasina, 61, flew to the United States on June 12 after being freed on parole on medical grounds after spending a year in custody on graft charges ranging from extortion to fraud.