Tarique may return at any time soon

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman may return home from London at any time, ending his long exile, as his mother and party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, currently receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, remains in critical condition.

BNP insiders say if Khaleda Zia’s health remains unchanged or worsens, Tarique Rahman is likely to come back immediately. Otherwise, he is expected to return in the second week of December to lead the party ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said their party’s acting chairman will decide on returning home after assessing whether Khaleda Zia can be taken abroad. “If the situation remains unchanged, he will return home soon.”

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the government is ready to provide the special support needed for

Tarique Rahman’s security. “No one in Bangladesh faces any security threat,” he added.

While talking to reporters after a meeting of the core committee on law and order at the Secretariat, he said there had been no discussion at the meeting on Tarique Rahman’s return.

“We are ready for everyone. The Home Ministry is prepared for all, and for those who need special security… whatever special arrangements are required, we are ready to provide them,” the adviser said.

On the other hand, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said they have no specific information regarding Tarique Rahman’s return. “A travel pass will be issued if he applies. As far as I know, he has not sought a travel pass yet,” he said, while talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Asked whether Tarique Rahman holds a passport, he replied that he had no information on the matter.

Responding to another question, Touhid Hossain said there are preparations and arrangements for taking the ailing BNP chairperson abroad for advanced treatment, but her family and party will make the decision based on medical advice.

Earlier, on Sunday, the foreign adviser said the government can issue a ‘one-time’ travel pass within a day, facilitating the acting BNP chairman’s return if he wishes to return.

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, after attending a meeting of the party’s Standing Committee on Monday night, said Tarique Rahman would return to Bangladesh soon.

Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital on 23 November. On Monday, she was placed on ventilation following deterioration of her condition.

Speaking to reporters during a briefing in front of Evercare Hospital on Tuesday, her personal physician Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said the BNP chairperson is responding to the treatment provided by a medical board comprising local and foreign specialists.

Amid the security concerns for Tarique Rahman, the government on Monday declared Khaleda Zia a VVIP.

Following the declaration, members of the Special Security Force (SSF) and President’s Guard Regiment (PGR) were deployed at Evercare Hospital for the security of the BNP chairperson.

Now speculations are rife whether the BNP chairperson’s family members, including Tarique Rahman, will also enjoy the special security. Talking to the Daily Sun, a senior BNP leader, wishing not to be named, said the security arrangements that have been taken for Khaleda Zia as a VVIP should also be applicable to her family members.

Tarique Rahman, along with his wife Zubaida Rahman and only daughter Zaima Rahman, has been living in exile in London since 2008.

In early October this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs approved the BNP’s request to acquire two bulletproof vehicles to ensure the security of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman during election campaigning.