Tarique Rahman Meets Chief Adviser Yunus After Return

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman meets Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna on Thursday night.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday night met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, marking his first high-level political engagement in Bangladesh since returning from exile.

The meeting took place at the state guest house Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser. Tarique Rahman arrived there with his family around 7:30pm and left for his Gulshan residence at about 9:10pm after the courtesy call.

Earlier in the evening, he departed the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan and briefly stopped at his residence before heading to Jamuna.

The two leaders last met in person on June 13 last year in London during Professor Yunus’ visit to the United Kingdom. At that time, Tarique Rahman was serving as the party’s acting chairman, and the meeting was followed by a joint statement issued by representatives of both sides.

After spending 17 years in exile in the UK, Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25. Upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, he spoke with Professor Yunus over the phone while waiting at the VIP lounge.

They also had a brief interaction on December 31 at the Jatiya Sangsad complex during the namaz-e-janaza of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who passed away 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 marked his first engagement with the Chief Adviser in his new role as party chairman.