Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain spoke at a session titled "Bangladesh's Foreign Policy: Defining a Relevant Role in a Changing World", at the National Press Club today. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Nov 30, 2025 (BSS) - Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain today said that the government has no restrictions regarding BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's return to Bangladesh, stressing that a one-time travel pass can be issued within a day if he expresses his intention to come back.

"If today he (Tarique Rahman) says that he wants to return, we can issue a one-time travel pass tomorrow. He can board a plane the day after. There is no problem. It's entirely up to him," he said. 

He made the remarks responding to a question at a session titled "Bangladesh's Foreign Policy: Defining a Relevant Role in a Changing World", organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club here this afternoon.

Touhid said the government does not know under what status Tarique Rahman is currently staying in London, adding that if he wishes to return to Bangladesh, it would be unusual for any other country to prevent him from doing so.

He further explained that when someone wants to return but does not possess a valid passport, the government generally issues a single-journey travel pass, a process that normally takes less than a day.

Talking about Bangladesh's relations with India, the foreign affairs adviser said that following the changes brought about by the July mass uprising, neighbouring India needs some time to adjust to the new realities, expressing optimism that working relations between the two countries will soon normalise.

"We would like to have a better working relations with India based on interest," he said.

Responding to a question whether the election schedule would be affected if Tarique Rahman cannot return, Touhid said he does not think the election would be hindered by the absence of any individual. 

Referring to former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Touhid said although he is believed to be in India, New Delhi has not provided any official confirmation and no formal discussion on his return has taken place so far.

"I do not have any official information regarding Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. We all know that he is in India, but that has never been formally communicated to us in writing. I have no information that any extradition process involving him is going to begin," he added. 

The adviser added that as the deposed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been convicted, Bangladesh expects her repatriation from India at the earliest possible time.

Referring to killings along the Bangladesh-India frontier, the foreign adviser said this was one of the only border in the world where people are killed outside any war-like situation.

"If someone commits a crime, there are courts to try and punish them (not shooting them)," he added.

The adviser said Bangladesh would continue to lodge protests and condemn such killings of its citizens along the border by Indian border guards.

DCAB President AKM Moinuddin and General Secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun also spoke at the event.