Tarique Rahman Steps Up Diplomatic Outreach Ahead of Polls
BNP chief meets US, Canadian and other envoys as Bangladesh heads toward elections next month
- Tarique Rahman holds series of meetings with foreign diplomats
- US Ambassador Brent Christensen calls on BNP chief in Gulshan
- BNP widely viewed as frontrunner in upcoming elections
- Envoys from Canada, Switzerland, Brazil and India also engaged
GG News Bureau
Dhaka, 19th Jan: Tarique Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a leading contender for the Prime Minister’s post, has intensified diplomatic engagement with foreign envoys ahead of the national elections scheduled for next month.
Rahman, who recently returned from 17 years in exile and is widely regarded as a frontrunner for the country’s top office, has held a series of high-profile meetings with key international representatives, signaling the BNP’s effort to build global rapport ahead of the polls.
The most closely watched interaction took place on Monday when US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen, along with senior embassy officials, paid a courtesy visit to the BNP Chairman at his Gulshan office. The meeting was also attended by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
Earlier this week, Ambassador Christensen had presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Banga Bhaban. In a public statement, he said, “I look forward to advancing President Trump’s priorities and further strengthening US–Bangladesh relations.”
On the same day, Canadian High Commissioner Ajit Singh also met Rahman, adding to a growing list of diplomatic engagements.
This outreach follows a busy weekend during which the BNP chief held talks with the ambassadors of Switzerland and Brazil. Additionally, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma had met Rahman on January 10, underscoring New Delhi’s continued engagement with Bangladesh’s political leadership.
Political observers say these meetings reflect both the BNP’s rising influence and international interest in Bangladesh’s forthcoming electoral process.
