The Election Commission (EC) will consider making BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman a registered voter in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election after receiving his formal application.
ASM Humayun Kabir, director general of the EC’s National Identity (NID) Registration Wing, confirmed the matter to TIMES of Bangladesh on Friday.
He added, “Anyone is eligible to become a voter at any time, but since the national election is approaching, permission from the Election Commission will now be required to become registered in the voter list for the upcoming polls.”
When asked about the constituency where Tarique Rahman would be registered as a voter, he said the Election Commission would share all relevant details publicly once it receives a formal application or letter regarding the issue.
In a separate phone conversation, TIMES spoke with EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.
He said the commission has so far learned about Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to the Election Commission on Saturday only through media reports. According to Ahmed, the EC has not yet received any official letter or communication from the BNP in this regard.
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Friday after spending more than 17 years in exile in London. His return has drawn significant public and political attention.
The move comes around one and a half years after the fall of the Awami League government following a mass uprising.
Many politicians and analysts see Tarique Rahman’s return as a major development in the country’s unstable political transition ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, which is scheduled to be held on 12 February.
Tarique Rahman arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 11:39am on Thursday. He traveled from London via Sylhet on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. His wife, Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman, accompanied him on the journey.
