Staff Reporter :
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will come back to the country after the national election schedule is announced and will take charge of leading the party in that election, said Humaiun Kobir, his Foreign Affairs Adviser, on Thursday.
“His return is certain. Once the election date is announced, you will see him back. There is no doubt about it,” Humaiun told journalists at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after his arrival from the United States.
He further said, “The parliamentary election is expected in February, and it will be Tarique Rahman who leads BNP in that crucial contest.”
Humaiun pointed out that since Tarique would be at the helm during the polls, his presence in Bangladesh was only natural. “In 2001, Khaleda Zia spearheaded the BNP campaign, while Tarique played a vital role from behind the scenes. This time, he himself will lead the party in the national polls,” he added.
Referring to his participation in the UN General Assembly alongside Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Humaiun remarked that the Chief Adviser was genuinely committed to ensuring that the upcoming election takes place on time. “We expect the polls to be held in February next year,” he said.
He also mentioned that the Bangladesh delegation at the UNGA, led by Prof Yunus, represented different political parties, which demonstrated the country’s unity on the global stage.
On the incident at New York’s JFK Airport on 23 September, where some political leaders were harassed during the Chief Adviser’s trip, the BNP leader defended his party.
“An act like throwing eggs does not harm Bangladesh’s reputation. On the contrary, it exposed once again the Awami League’s fascist character and justified why their political activities had been banned in the country,” he asserted.
While he admitted there had been shortcomings in coordination by the embassy and security agencies, he said the Chief Adviser had assured them that necessary steps would be taken.
Calling the UN visit a success, Humaiun said, “It reflected a united Bangladesh standing strong on the international platform.”
