Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain has said that if BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman chooses to return to Bangladesh, the authorities could issue him a travel pass within a single day.

He made the remark on Sunday while responding to questions from reporters at a DCAB Talk event organized by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club. The session focused on “Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy: Defining a Relevant Role in a Changing World.”

Speaking about Tarique Rahman’s possible return, the adviser said, “There is no restriction preventing him from coming back. A travel pass can be arranged in one day. And if former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia wishes to go abroad for medical treatment, the interim government will extend whatever cooperation is necessary.”

Addressing another issue, the adviser noted that there is no official confirmation regarding the possible extradition of former state minister for home affairs Asaduzzaman Khan, who was convicted and sentenced to death for crimes against humanity and is believed to be in India.

Recently, the chief adviser’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, wrote on Facebook that he was fairly certain India would soon return Asaduzzaman Khan to Bangladesh.

When asked whether relations would be affected if India does not extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Touhid Hossain responded that bilateral ties would not hinge on a single matter.