The interim government is yet to decide to provide Special Security Force (SSF) security for Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting Chairman and currently the most important political figure in Bangladesh. In the February 12 national polls BNP is expecting to win and form government where Tarique Rahman is being tipped as the Prime Minister.
Tarique Rahman on Wednesday confirmed that he is returning to Bangladesh from London on December 25. The government declared BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia an "extremely important person," granting her SSF security.
BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is undergoing treatment on ventilation at Evercare Hospital, has been declared a VVIP and given SSF security. But the advisory council of the interim government has not decided to provide any special security facilities to Tarique Rahman like his mother though his securities is now most vulnerable as he is returning home after 17 years in exile in London.
Unless absolute security for Tarique Rahman is ensured for his return, movement, and participation in the upcoming national election campaign, there are apprehensions on his personal security. Special security for Tarique Rahman has become more essential after Sharif Osman Hadi, and spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho and an independent parliamentary aspirant for Dhaka-8 was shot on Friday. Now he has been flown abroad in critical condition for treatment.
Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan answered questions from journalists on December 4 2025 after a meeting of the Advisory Council with the Chief Adviser. She said SSF has been deployed very recently following the government's announcement which earmarked Begum Khaleda Zia as a Very Very Important Person (VVIP). Questions came up whether Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman would be given SSF security.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan referred to gazette notification and said that only Begum Khaleda Zia is allowed for the SSF facility. None from Khaleda Zia's family will be provided with this privilege, Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters.
Meanwhile Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Saturday said that the government will take necessary measures to ensure the security of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman upon his return to the country. "There is no apprehension regarding his security. We will arrange every possible measure to ensure his safety," he said.
After a special meeting of the advisory council, Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud said that Khaleda Zia has been declared a VVIP considering her physical condition and security.
The SSF is deployed for security of the President and the Head of Government. According to the SSF Ordinance, the SSF is responsible for the security of a person declared as a VVIP by the state.
In a 2019 ruling, the High Court had stated that only the President and the Prime Minister are VVIPs. However, legal experts say that the government has the authority to declare anyone else as VVIP under the law.
Meanwhile, Masuduzzaman, the BNP-nominated candidate has announced his withdrawal from the election in the Narayanganj-5 constituency, citing concerns over his personal and family security. He said his family had been worried about security since he declared his candidacy, adding that their concerns deepened following the shooting of Inqilab Moncho leader Osman Sharif Hadi in Dhaka last week.
"Since announcing my candidacy, my family members have been worried about our safety. After the shooting of Osman Hadi in Dhaka, they became even more frightened," Masuduzzaman said. He added that the decision to withdraw from next polls was made at the request of his family.
After the shorting of Osman Hadi, leading candidates of BNP, Jamaat and other parties, have become worried and concerned about their personal and family security.
The security of BNP's Tarique Rahman and Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Jamaat's Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman and General Secretary Golam Porwar have now become more vulnerable in the wake of incidents like the shooting of Osman Hadi.
