After years away, Tarique Rahman begins work at BNP office

A separate chamber has been prepared for him at the party chairperson's office in Gulshan

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has begun office work at the party chairperson’s office in Dhaka's Gulshan, two days after returning to Bangladesh following more than 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom.

A separate chamber had been prepared for him at the Gulshan office, which was opened for the BNP chairperson after the political changes of January 11, 2007. Sunday marked the first time Tarique visited the office in his capacity as acting chairman.

His vehicle entered the office compound at 1:40pm after he travelled from his residence.

Tarique was welcomed with flowers by senior party leaders, including Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Several other party figures were present, including Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, officials from the chairperson’s office and district leaders from Bogura.

After exchanging greetings, Tarique went to his chamber on the second floor and took his seat.

The BNP has also set up a separate chamber for the acting chairman at its central office in Naya Paltan, where party chief Khaleda Zia and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir already have designated offices.

In addition, the party has rented another house in Gulshan, from where preparations and activities related to the 13th national election will be coordinated.

Since arriving in Dhaka on Dec 25, Tarique has maintained a busy schedule. On his first day, following a reception and public address, he visited his mother Khaleda at Evercare Hospital.

On Friday, Tarique paid respects at the grave of his father, BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, and laid a wreath at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar.

On Saturday, he visited the graves of Inqilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi and national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. He later completed voter registration formalities at the Election Training Institute in Agargaon.

Tarique also visited Banani Graveyard to pay respects at the grave of his younger brother, Arafat Rahman Koko, and later paid tribute at the Banani Military Graveyards, including the grave of his father-in-law, former Navy chief Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, as well as graves of Army officers killed in the Pilkhana massacre.