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Tarique meets Shafiqur, Nahid in rare gesture of political harmony
Daily Sun Report, Dhaka
Published: 16 Feb 2026, 12:00 AM
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman (Right) meets Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman (Left) at the latter’s Bashundhara residence on Sunday. -BNP Media Cell
- Tarique discusses contemporary issues, promotes constructive political coexistence
- Jamaat’s Shafiqur extends early greetings to ‘future prime minister’, commits to cooperation, accountability
- NCP’s Nahid greets Tarique at his Bailey road home
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has made an unusual move in Bangladesh’s politics by visiting the residences of archrival leaders just a day before taking oath as prime minister, following his party’s landslide victory in the 12 February parliamentary election.
On Sunday evening, Tarique met Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman at the latter’s Bashundhara residence, signalling renewed political engagement at the start of a new parliamentary chapter.
Analysts described the meeting as historic and said that incoming leaders rarely pay courtesy calls on opponents before assuming office.
Tarique visited around 7:10pm, accompanied by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan.
Shafiqur welcomed them with a bouquet. Jamaat Deputy Chief Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher and Joint Secretary General and spokesperson Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair were also present.
The visit followed BNP’s announcement that Tarique would also meet Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), as part of a broader effort to engage key political stakeholders. BNP won the highest number of seats in the election, while the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance emerged as the second-largest bloc.
Although the agenda of the Jamaat meeting was not officially disclosed, observers said the discussion covered contemporary political issues and reflected an attempt at constructive coexistence.
The visit drew large gatherings of leaders and activists from both parties while law enforcement deployed additional security around the area.
Later, in a Facebook post, Shafiqur said Tarique’s visit was a “historical moment” and expressed hope it would open a new chapter of political maturity and mutual respect.
He said he envisioned a sovereign Bangladesh based on equity and justice, and pledged Jamaat’s cooperation with the new government in the national interest while playing its constitutional role as an ideological opposition in parliament.
Shafiqur also said Tarique assured him that effective steps would be taken to prevent post-election violence and attacks on opposition workers and minority communities.
Jamaat, he added, would support government initiatives prioritising public welfare while remaining vocal where accountability is ignored.
Later the same night, Tarique, accompanied by Fakhrul and Nazrul, paid a courtesy call on NCP Convener Nahid Islam at his Bailey Road residence around 8:25pm. Nahid came out to welcome him warmly.
Political observers viewed the meeting as part of Tarique’s wider outreach to both allies and former competitors, promoting dialogue and cooperation in the evolving political landscape.
While details of the discussions were not made public, the engagements have been interpreted as a demonstration of political maturity and an effort to set a precedent for constructive interaction among Bangladesh’s major political forces as the country enters a new parliamentary phase.
The interaction among the BNP, Jamaat and NCP leadership, and strategic consultations among them, will help Bangladesh march towards a new phase of democratic progress, said observers.
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