Amid uncertainty over BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s return, discussions about a “travel pass” for him have surfaced.
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain on Sunday said that a travel pass could be issued within a day if Tarique wishes to return.
His remarks suggest that Tarique does not currently hold a Bangladeshi passport. A travel pass is generally required only for citizens who need to re-enter the country without a valid passport.
The issue arose after Tarique said in a Facebook post on 29 November that the decision for his return was “not open and not under sole control”.
After a meeting on Monday night, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said Tarique is expected to come back to Bangladesh soon. He made the comment while addressing journalists outside the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan after a meeting of the standing committee around 11:30pm on Monday.
Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson and former three-time prime minister Khaleda Zia remains in a critical state at Dhaka’s Evercare Hospital. Her condition, described by party insiders and physicians as “very critical” and “extremely fragile” has drawn unprecedented international medical attention including the arrival of a high-level team of specialist doctors from China on Monday.
What is a travel pass?
Foreign Adviser Touhid explained that Bangladeshi citizens abroad who do not have a passport or whose passports have expired are provided with a one-time travel pass by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate their return home. The respective embassy or high commission issues the document.
On 29 November, he said, “If Tarique Rahman says today (29 November) that he wants to return, the travel pass will be issued tomorrow (30 November). The day after, he can come back.” He added the government has imposed no restrictions on his return.
In response to a question about who gets a travel pass, former ambassador Humayun Kabir said that if a Bangladeshi citizen does not have a passport, or has lost their passport, or if there is insufficient time to issue a passport for someone, then the Bangladesh High Commission or Embassy in the relevant country provides them with a travel pass solely for coming to Bangladesh.
“It is one-way, meaning only for coming to Bangladesh. This travel pass is valid only until arrival in the country,” he added.
In this context, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on Monday said there is no legal barrier to Tarique Rahman’s return to the country.
“I am not aware of any legal barrier regarding the Acting Chairman of BNP coming to Bangladesh. And even if there is any barrier… we will certainly provide maximum cooperation. We will also provide maximum cooperation regarding his security,” he added.
Tarique yet to be registered as Bangladeshi voter
With elections due next February and Tarique named a BNP candidate, his voter status is questioned.
On Monday, Election Commission (EC) Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, “Tarique Rahman has not yet registered as a voter. However, if the EC gives a decision, he will get the opportunity to be a voter and a candidate.”
Officials noted a recent BNP’s request for Tarique to become a voter upon return and that his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman collected relevant documents in May. For expatriate enrollment, applicants must submit passport or citizenship copies.
Tarique Rahman’s passport or dual citizenship status remains undisclosed.
