Tarique’s return to fill country’s political void: Shafiqul

Staff Reporter :

The Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, has said the return of BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, will fill the political vacuum in the country.

Speaking to journalists at the Holy Rosary Queen Church in Tejgaon while exchanging Christmas greetings with the Christian community, he added that the country faces genuine political gaps that Tarique’s presence will address.

Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after 17 years in exile. His Bangladesh Airlines flight from London first stopped in Sylhet at 9:56am before landing at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:39am.

Accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Jaime Rahman, he received a warm welcome from senior BNP leaders in the VIP lounge, who greeted him with flowers and embraces. Shafiqul Alam described Tarique as the leader of country’s largest political party and said his arrival would have a very positive impact on the country. “Bangladesh is undergoing a democratic transition. His return will make this transition smoother,” he added.
On questions regarding Tarique’s security, Shafiqul Alam said the BNP is overseeing it, and the government is providing all requested support.

Regarding the resignation of the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury, he said it occurred late last night, and the reasons are not yet known.
Earlier in the day, Shafiqul Alam visited Tejgaon’s Holy Rosary Queen Church to exchange Christmas greetings with the Christian community.

He stressed that Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony, where all communities should be able to practise their faith freely, a principle he described as the cornerstone of true democracy.