United News of Bangladesh

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Tuesday (December 02) said they do not have any specific information regarding BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s return to home, mentioning that he has not yet sought any travel pass. “Travel pass will be issued if he seeks. So far I know, he is yet to seek any travel pass,” he said when a journalist approached him while leaving his office – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Asked whether Tarique holds any passport, Adviser Hossain said he does not know about the matter. “That I can’t tell you.” Read more: No reason to contest national election: Adviser Touhid Hossain He said there are preparations and arrangements for taking her abroad (for advanced treatment) but her family and party will take the decisions based on doctor’s advice. Hossain on Sunday said the government can issue a ‘one-time’ travel pass within a day, facilitating BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s return to home if he wishes to come back home. “If he (Tarique) says today that he wants to return, we can provide the pass tomorrow and he can catch the plane the day after tomorrow. There is no problem,” Adviser Hossain said while responding to a question during ‘DCAB Talk’ at the Jatiya Press Club. The Adviser said this is a kind of ‘one-time’ pass which is usually issued if anyone does not have the passport or the passport expires. “It’s for once. It takes only one day to issue such a pass.” Adviser Hossain said there are no restrictions from the government side. Read more: Tarique Rahman likely to return home soon: Salahuddin Referring to BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia’s health condition, he said she is not in a position at this moment that allows her travelling abroad for further treatment. If her health improves to some extent, she will be taken abroad and the party is making arrangements to this end. “We are assisting.”

The government of Bangladesh is ready to provide any support needed for BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s security, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Tuesday (December 02). Talking to reporters after a meeting of the core committee on law and order at the Secretariat, the adviser said there had been no discussion at the meeting on Tarique Rahman’s return. Read more: Govt declares Khaleda Zia a ‘very very important person’ Asked whether the Home Ministry has made preparations to ensure Tarique’s security, the adviser said, “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.” No one in Bangladesh faces any security threat, he added. Read more: No specific information over Tarique’s return, says Foreign Adviser

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has said the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, is expected to return home soon. Salahuddin made the remarks while talking to reporters when asked about the possible date of Tarique Rahman’s return, shortly after attending a meeting of the BNP Standing Committee. He said the committee’s regular meeting focused on election strategies and plans for campaign activities. Growing concerns over Khaleda’s health; Chinese team joins medial efforts Asked whether Tarique Rahman’s return was included in the meeting agenda, Salahuddin replied, “He will return soon, InshaAllah.” He also said that Dr AZM Zahid will brief the media on all matters related to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s health. The meeting, held at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, began around 8:30pm and continued until 11pm. Since her admission to Evercare Hospital on November 23, Khaleda Zia has been under intensive treatment in the hospital’s Coronary Care Unit (CCU) for multiple complications affecting her liver, kidneys and heart. Read more: No legal barrier to Tarique Rahman’s return, says Law Adviser