BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday night paid a late-night visit to Evercare Hospital to see his ailing mother and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, completing his first full day of official party work.
Tarique left the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office after spending around nine hours there and went straight to Evercare Hospital.
He reached the hospital at about 11:35pm, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
Tarique left the hospital at around 12:08am for his Gulshan Avenue residence.
This was the third time Tarique has visited the hospital since returning to the country after nearly 17 years abroad.
Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Evercare Hospital in the Bashundhara residential area since November 23.
According to party sources, her condition remains very critical.
Meanwhile, Tarique visited Evercare Hospital on Thursday night after briefly addressing party leaders and supporters at the 300 Feet venue in the capital.
He also went to the hospital again on Saturday night to enquire about his mother’s health.
Earlier in the day, Tarique Rahman arrived at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office at around 1:40pm for the first time since the office was established following the political changeover after 1/11.
Senior party leaders, including Standing Committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, welcomed him with a bouquet.
After exchanging greetings, Tarique went to his chamber on the second floor, where he held discussions with senior leaders on organisational issues, democracy and the upcoming parliamentary election.
Speaking to reporters later, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said this was the Acting Chairman’s first official working day at the party office.
“We discussed election-related issues and decided to cooperate with the Election Commission,” he said, adding that it was not a formal Standing Committee meeting.
In the evening, Tarique signed his nomination papers to contest the 13th national parliamentary election from Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies with BNP’s electoral symbol, the Sheaf of Paddy.
The nomination papers were signed at the Gulshan office in the presence of party coordinators from both constituencies.
For the Dhaka-17 constituency, BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Abdus Salam has been appointed chief coordinator, while Advisory Council member Prof Dr Farhad Halim Donar will also play a key coordinating role.
Party sources said Tarique’s nomination papers for both seats will be submitted on Monday.
The 13th parliamentary election is scheduled to be held on February 12 next year.
Meanwhile, Tarique also exchanged views with BNP leaders and activists, including those from associate bodies of the Dhaka-17 constituency, on organisational and election-related matters.
Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Thursday, ending nearly 17 years abroad.
His return has drawn widespread public attention and strong emotions among BNP leaders, activists and supporters across the country.