Tarique meets CA Yunus

Staff Reporter :

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman paid a courtesy visit to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday, marking his first significant engagement in Bangladesh since his return to the country on December 25.

After the meeting, Tarique Rahman left the state guest house Jamuna for his Gulshan residence at around 9:10pm. Earlier, his vehicle arrived at Jamuna at approximately 7:28pm. He was accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman.

During the visit, members of both families exchanged greetings. Prof Yunus was accompanied by his daughter, Dina Yunus. Before heading to Jamuna, Tarique Rahman departed the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan at 6:42pm and returned briefly to his residence. He later left for Jamuna with his family at 6:52pm.

The two leaders last met face-to-face on June 13 last year in London during Prof Yunus’ visit to the UK.

That meeting, held at the Dorchester Hotel while Tarique Rahman was serving as BNP’s acting chairman, was followed by a joint statement issued by representatives of both sides.

After spending 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom, Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25.

Upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, he spoke with Prof Yunus over the phone while waiting at the VIP lounge.

They also briefly interacted on December 31 during the namaz-e-janaza of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at the Jatiya Sangsad complex, following her death on December 30.

Tarique Rahman was unanimously elected BNP chairman on January 9 by the party’s highest policymaking body, the National Standing Committee.

Thursday’s meeting was his first engagement with the Chief Adviser since assuming the role of BNP chairman.