BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman stepped into 60 on Wednesday without any celebration events. Tarique, the eldest son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and its Chairperson Khaleda Zia, was born on November 20, 1965 in Bogura. Following Tarique’s instructions, the BNP has decided not to hold any events to mark his 60th birthday. A press release issued on November 11 said: “Leaders and activists of all BNP units, along with its associated and affiliated organisations across the country, are hereby informed that no events will be held to celebrate Mr Tarique Rahman’s birthday day.” The statement also warned that organisational action would be taken against anyone who defies this directive. Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia wished her son, Tarique Rahman, on his 60th birthday early Wednesday. "Madam (Khaleda) spoke to Tarique every night, and she also wished him a happy birthday last night," said a BNP chief's personal physician. Apart from Khaleda, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and senior party leaders, including standing committee members, extended their birthday wishes to the acting chairman and exchanged greetings. Two standing committee members confirmed that they had sent their wishes to Tarique via SMS. The BNP Acting Chairman stepped into 60 on Wednesday. Tarique, the eldest son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and its Chairperson Khaleda Zia, was born on November 20, 1965 in Bogura. He is currently living in exile in London with his wife, Zubaida Rahman, and daughter, Zaima Rahman. Unlike previous years, the BNP has decided not to hold any events, including prayer sessions, to mark his 60th birthday, following Tarique’s instructions. A press release issued on November 11 said: “Leaders and activists of all BNP units, along with its associated and affiliated organisations across the country, are hereby informed that no events will be held to celebrate Mr Tarique Rahman’s birthday day.” The statement also warned that organisational action would be taken against anyone who defies this directive. At the age of 22, he became a member of the Gabtali Upazila BNP in Bogura district in 1988. He had been active in politics before officially joining the organisation. In 1988, Tarique founded the non-political social organisation 'Ziaur Rahman Foundation'. Tarique took part in the nationwide election campaign alongside his mother, Khaleda Zia, during the 1991 election, but he was less active in politics after that, despite the BNP forming the government following that election. He, however, played a significant role in the 2001 election campaign, where the BNP won a landslide victory and formed the government. In 2002, following a decision by the BNP Standing Committee, Tarique Rahman was appointed Senior Joint Secretary General of the party. He gained prominence through his extensive travels across the country to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. Tarique went to London for medical treatment on September 11, 2008, and he has been living there with his family ever since. He lost his brother, Arafat Rahman Koko, while in exile in London. A significant portion of Tarique’s political career has been spent in exile, during which he faced numerous setbacks. While in exile, in 2009, he was elected Senior Vice-Chairman of the party during the Fifth National Council of BNP. He was reelected Senior Vice-Chairman during the Sixth National Council in 2016. Since the imprisonment of his mother and party Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018, Tarique has been serving as the acting chairman of the BNP. On September 11, 2008, just eight days after being released from jail on bail, Tarique Rahman left for London for treatment during the military-backed caretaker government. He had been arrested on March 7, 2007 and was released on bail on September 3, 2008. On February 3, 1994, Tarique married Dr Zubaida Rahman, the daughter of former Air Force Chief and former Communications and Agriculture Minister Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan. Their only daughter, Zaima Rahman, recently completed her law degree at Queen Mary University of London. Tarique has been leading the party from London for many years, especially in the absence of his mother from politics. After the fall of the Awami League government, he frequently addresses various party programmes virtually and issues directives to party leaders and activists. BNP senior leaders at different recent political programmes urged the interim government to withdraw all the cases filed against Tarique Rahman, paving the way for his return from London.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday said a democratic system, ensuring people’s right to vote, must be established to address the country’s problems and resist all forms of conspiracy against the nation. Speaking at a training programme of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal, he also announced that if his party returns to power, they will re-launch the canal digging programme initiated by BNP founder Ziaur Rahman in the late 1970s to address farmers' water crises and boost agricultural production in an effort to reduce food imports. “The conspiracies against the country, its people, and the nationalist forces have not stopped. The nationalist forces must alert everyone, including those in rural areas, and convey the message that the problems in all sectors cannot be resolved until we establish a democratic system,” the BNP leader said. Tarique said people are getting to know about the plots to some extent through various news reports in newspapers, on social media, and even through telephone conversations. He also said without true representatives accountable to people, it will not be possible to control the market or eliminate business syndicates. "In the same way, it will be impossible to develop any sector of the country, from education to industry, or to contain corruption, or achieve any positive progress without a democratic system." Tarique urged the nationalist forces also to convey a message to the people, even at the union level, that the voting rights of citizens must be safeguarded at all costs. “You must tell the people that, regardless of which party’s politics they support or who they wish to vote for, their voting rights must be ensured. There’s no compromise with it” He also said no more sham elections or voting at night should be allowed in Bangladesh. “Voting must take place in daylight. There should be the freedom to vote for anyone you choose, and the freedom to vote safely. No one should be allowed to disturb and intimidate others.” The BNP leader said the election must be held in a fair and neutral manner without any fear. “If we can ensure this, we will gradually be able to ease the problems facing the country and its people.” The BNP leader also said that people's right to franchise must be restored to thwart all forms of plots. Democracy, voting rights key to solving national issues: Tarique Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal organised the day-long programme at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh.  It has decided to hold farmers' rallies at the union level for the next three months. Tarique shared his party's future plans to improve the agriculture sector, enhance facilities for farmers, and take effective steps to increase all forms of agricultural production in order to keep commodity prices within the purchasing power of the common people. He also said Krishak Dal, the peasant wing of BNP, will be strengthened by involving more genuine farmers in the future." Tarique said BNP will try to resolve the problems the farmers are facing if it comes to power. He said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s canal digging programme, which effectively helped increase crop production, would be revived. “Farmers face water shortage for crop production. If BNP forms the government in the future, the canal digging programme will be restarted.” The BNP leader said this programme will address the farmers’ water crisis, help create water reservoirs, and reduce the reliance on underground water. Stating that the country’s population has now reached nearly 20 crore, Tarique emphasised that agriculture must be prioritised to produce food for such a large population. “It is not feasible to import food for so many people. So, basic food must be produced within the country. We need to consider how to expand agricultural land. There are certain measures we can take to increase agricultural land, but this will only be possible if we return to power,” he said. He also said a significant portion of women, including in the rural areas of Bangladesh, are involved in agriculture. “So, greater attention must be given to the agricultural sector.” Referring to the issue of farmers' seeds crisis, the BNP leader said, "We have considered agricultural insurance because crops are often damaged by natural disasters." He also said if a people's government is established, they will take many other steps to develop the agricultural sector, including the establishment of agro-based industries and the introduction of cooperative agriculture.

The High court on Sunday ordered the judicial court to dispose of as soon as possible the case against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida in a graft case filed by anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)  The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo also rejected the couple's writ petitions challenging the corruption case against them for acquiring wealth beyond their known sources of income and concealing wealth in their affidavits. Read: Verdict on Tarique-Zubaida’s whereabouts on June 26 Khurshid Alam Khan, ACC lawyer said Tarique Rahman is a fugitive convict. So no lawyers can fight on behalf of him.  Besides, the Appellate Division recently declared Zubaida as a fugitive.   As both of them remained fugitive, the court rejected the writ petitions of the duo saying these are not acceptable, he said. The court also withdrew the stay order on the trial proceedings of the case filed against them. It also asked to send the documents of the case to the judicial court within 10 days and dispose of it soon. On June 19, the High Court fixed June 26 for hearing the three writ petitions.  Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali stood for the petitioners while Advocate Khurshid Alam and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the ACC and state respectively. Read: HC defers Tarique-Zubaida’s hearing in corruption case On September 26, 2007, the ACC lodged a complaint with Kafrul Police against Tarique Rahman,  Zubaida and her mother Iqbal Mand Banu for amassing illegal wealth of Tk 4.81 crore and concealing the information. In the same year, the High Court issued a rule suspending the trial proceedings in the case after hearing a petition filed by Zubaida. On April 12, 2017, the HC rejected the rule and asked her to surrender before the court within eight weeks.

BNP senior leader Selima Rahman on Wednesday alleged that the government has taken coronavirus pandemic as a “means of business by creating opportunities for traders to plunder public money”.

The Communist Party of China (CCP) has provided BNP with 10,000 masks to strengthen the party’s efforts to fight against deadly coronavirus.