Mideast could be top priority for PM’s first foreign trip

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman have completed the formalities to obtain Bangladeshi passports as part of preparations for upcoming foreign visits, officials said.

While Zubaida Rahman has already received her passport, Tarique Rahman is expected to receive it soon, a top official of the e-Passport and Automated Border Control Management Project told the Daily Sun.

The process was completed on 13 March, following a visit from the project officials to the prime minister’s Gulshan residence.

A source within the BNP chairman’s media wing said Tarique Rahman has already been invited to visit several countries, including China, India and Pakistan, after assuming office as prime minister.

Tarique Rahman is carefully planning his first overseas trip, given its diplomatic significance amid the evolving global situation, particularly the Middle East war, the source said.

The government is closely monitoring the overall situation in the Middle East, as the highest number of Bangladeshi expatriates resides in the Gulf countries and sends significant amounts of foreign currency to the country, the source added. 

“If the Middle East situation improves, the prime minister could make his first visit to these countries on a priority basis,” the source said.

Bangladesh maintains strong economic and labour ties with the Gulf countries, making the region a key focus of its diplomatic engagement.

Its relations with Saudi Arabia have traditionally been close, particularly in labour migration, energy cooperation, Hajj management and diplomacy within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Meanwhile, the government has finalised a list of ministers who will carry out parliamentary responsibilities in the absence of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification in this regard on Tuesday night.

According to the notification, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will oversee the responsibilities of the Prime Minister’s Office in his absence.

In addition, Salahuddin Ahmed will be responsible for parliamentary matters related to the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Division and the Armed Forces Division.