Tarique phones journalist Anis Alamgir to extend Eid greetings

The journalist claims to have thanked the premier for his cordiality and harmony during Eid prayers

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman rang up Anis Alamgir to extend Eid-ul-Fitr greetings, the senior journalist says.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, Alamgir said the call came around 7pm and described it as unexpected.

"I was very surprised. He greeted my wife and me on Eid. He heard about me being incarcerated."

“I thanked and congratulated [him] for the cordiality and harmony he showed during the Eid prayers today.

"I expressed my special thanks to Tarique Rahman for not commenting on negative politics in the past in the wake of the 5th August 2024 (transition)."

Famed for his Iraq war coverage, Anis Alamgir walked out of jail on bail on Mar 14 after spending three months in custody in connection with anti-terror and corruption charges.

He received bail on Mar 11 in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that had kept him in jail despite earlier securing a High Court bail in a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Detectives picked him up on the night of Dec 14 last year for “questioning”.

Later that night, a case was filed against him and three others, accusing them of conspiring to destabilise the state and inciting a banned organisation.

Also on Saturday evening, the journalist shared photos of President Md Shahabuddin and the head of the government embracing one another after the country’s main Eid congregation in Dhaka.

In the post, he praised the duo for offering the Eid prayers together – a rare scene in the country’s political arena.

Anis Alamgir also met with the president at his official residence to extend his Eid greetings.

Anisur Rahman Alamgir, who worked for a host of media outlets, including the now-defunct Daily Ajker Kagoj, is widely known by his pen name Anis Alamgir.

Also a part-time university teacher, he made headlines over his statements on different issues, including contemporary politics, on television talk shows. Several of his Facebook posts also made the news.

Around 11:15pm, an official from the Prime Minister’s Press Office told bdnews24.com that Tarique Rahman exchanged Eid greetings with several senior journalists, including Shafik Rehman and Mokarram Hossain.

The prime minister inquired about their health.

The official added, “He had also called journalist Anis Alamgir.”