Tarique turns 61 tomorrow with no birthday celebrations

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will step into 61 tomorrow (20 November), but there will be no celebrations to mark the occasion.

Following his instructions, BNP has decided not to organise any events for his 61st birthday.

The party directed its leaders and activists yesterday not to arrange any programme or festival this year to celebrate the birthday of Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

"The birthday of the BNP's Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, is on 20 November [Thursday]. On this occasion, no lavish events or festivals, including cake cutting, putting up posters and banners, or holding discussion meetings, may be organised," said a media release.

The party also urged leaders and activists of all its units across the country, including Dhaka, not to violate this directive.

Tarique, the eldest son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and the party's Chairperson Khaleda Zia, was born on 20 November 1965 in Bogura.

In 1988, at the age of 22, he became a member of the Gabtali Upazila BNP in Bogura district. He had been involved in politics even before formally joining the organisation.

On 3 February 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, completed her law degree at Queen Mary University of London.

In 1988, Tarique founded the non-political social organisation 'Ziaur Rahman Foundation'.

He took part in the nationwide election campaign alongside his mother, Khaleda Zia, during the 1991 election. However, he was less active in politics afterwards, despite the BNP forming the government following that election.

He played a significant role in the 2001 election campaign, during which 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 rose to prominence through extensive travels across the country to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

Tarique went to London for medical treatment on 11 September 2008, and he has been living there with his family since then. A large part of Tarique's political life has been spent abroad, during which he faced numerous setbacks.

He lost his brother, Arafat Rahman Koko, while in exile in London.

While in exile, he was elected Senior Vice-Chairman of the party during the BNP's Fifth National Council in 2009. He was re-elected 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 8 February 2018, Tarique has been serving as the acting chairman of the BNP.

On 11 September 2008, just eight days after being released from jail on bail, Tarique Rahman left for London for medical treatment under the military-backed caretaker government. He had been arrested on 7 March 2007 and released on bail on 3 September 2008.

After the collapse of the Awami League government during last year's mass uprising, he has frequently addressed various party programmes virtually, issued directives to party leaders and activists, and led the party from the UK.

Party insiders said Tarique may return to Bangladesh in the first week of next month, ending his more than 17-year exile in the UK.