No Bar on Tarique Rahman’s Return, Says Touhid

Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain today said the government has no restrictions on BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s return to Bangladesh, noting that a one-time travel pass could be issued within a day if he wishes to come back.

“If he says today that he wants to return, we can issue a one-time travel pass tomorrow, and he can board a plane the next day. There is no problem—it is entirely up to him,” he said.

He made the remarks while responding to questions at a session titled Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy: Defining a Relevant Role in a Changing World, organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club.

Touhid said the government does not know under what status Tarique Rahman is staying in London, adding that it would be unusual for any country to prevent a citizen from returning home.

He explained that when someone wants to return without a valid passport, the government usually issues a single-journey travel pass, a process that typically takes less than a day.

On relations with India, the adviser said New Delhi needs some time to adjust to the changes brought about by the July mass uprising, expressing optimism that working relations between the two neighbours will soon stabilise.

“We want better working relations with India based on mutual interests,” he said.

Asked whether the election schedule could be affected if Tarique Rahman does not return, Touhid said he does not believe the absence of any individual would disrupt the polls.

Regarding former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Touhid said although he is believed to be in India, New Delhi has provided no official confirmation, nor has any formal discussion been held on his return.

“I have no official information about him. We all know he is in India, but this has never been formally communicated. I am not aware of any ongoing extradition process,” he added.

He also said that as the deposed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been convicted, Bangladesh expects her repatriation from India as soon as possible.

On border killings, Touhid said the Bangladesh-India frontier is among the few borders in the world where people are killed without any war-like situation.

“If someone commits a crime, they should be tried in court—not shot,” he said.

Bangladesh, he added, will continue to protest and condemn the killing of its citizens by Indian border guards.

DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun also spoke at the event.