Government will assist with travel papers if Tarique decides to return to Bangladesh, says Touhid

He says he has no information on whether the BNP leader has applied for a passport at the Bangladesh High Commission in London

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has said the interim government will extend support with travel documents if BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman chooses to return to Bangladesh.

He said the matter of returning depends on Tarique’s own decision, but the government will address issues related to his travel documents or passport when required, the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reports.

Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday afternoon, the advisor said he had no information whether the BNP leader had applied for a passport at the Bangladesh High Commission in London.

The BNP leader has been living in London for 17 years, from where he has been running the party.

Although discussions have emerged about his possible return following the fall of the Awami League government, no decision has been confirmed either by him or by the party.

His wife Zubaida Rahman returned to Bangladesh last May after 17 years when the government changed, but left again for London in June after staying for a month.

Tarique Rahman left Bangladesh in 2008 after being released from jail, travelling to London with his wife Zubaida and their daughter Zaima Rahman for medical treatment. The family did not return during the Awami League’s time in power.

Following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster from office, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia travelled to London for medical treatment and stayed at her son’s residence for four months before returning to Dhaka on May 6.

On Tarique Rahman’s possible return, Touhid said the BNP leader must first make a decision about coming back to the country.

Asked about the extradition of deposed prime minister Hasina, he said there had been no progress on Dhaka’s request to New Delhi.

He noted that no second request letter had been sent so far, the BBS said.

Replying to another query about international election observers, Touhid said a pre-election exploratory mission of the European Union (EU) has already visited Bangladesh.

“So far, I have no update in this regard,” he said, adding that the Election Commission is overseeing the matter.