The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no information yet regarding a travel pass for BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman to return to the country, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain said on Thursday.

Talking to reporters after a briefing for diplomats on the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election and referendums at the State Guest House Padma, he said Tarique Rahman so far has not requested any travel documents from the interim government for his return.

Earlier, on Wednesday, during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the adviser reiterated that Tarique Rahman had not applied for any travel document to return to Bangladesh.

The briefing on Thursday was attended by Dhaka-based foreign diplomats and focused on preparations and security measures ahead of the elections and referendums. The Ministry assured that the Election Commission would welcome international observers and provided reassurances regarding the security of foreign missions.

From 2:30 pm, vehicles bearing the flags of embassies of the United States, China, Russia, Pakistan, Spain, Norway, Sri Lanka, Algeria, Brunei, Turkey, Australia, Germany, Italy, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates were seen entering the State Guest House Padma. Vehicles carrying representatives of the United Nations and the European Union also arrived, along with several unflagged cars.

According to a subsequent press release, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam briefed development partners, foreign diplomats, and other key stakeholders on the interim government’s preparations and security arrangements for the elections and referendums. 

He invited diplomats to send observers and assured them that the armed forces and law enforcement agencies would remain vigilant and alert.

Around forty diplomats from Dhaka-based embassies attended the briefing.