Fact Checks: Shahriar Kabir Spreads False Claim About Tarique Rahman, Citing Anandabazar

By

Mohammed Raihan

7 January 2026

Supreme Court lawyer Barrister ASM Shahriar Kabir appeared on a talk show of a media outlet named Pakistan TV and, citing Anandabazar Patrika, claimed that Tarique Rahman signed an agreement with India stating that he would not take action against the Awami League if he came to power.

During the talk show, Barrister Shahriar said in English, ““Indian one of the famous newspaper called Anadandabazar. They published an article that Mr. Tarique Rahman, who is the Acting President of BNP, signed a treaty with India that if he come to power he will not take any action against Awami League. And there are three treaties. Same thing happened in 1971. The Awami League then in 1971 signed a contract that is actually, what we say, a ‘golami contract’. So it’s a slavery contract.”

The statement can be seen here.

A review of Anandabazar Patrika’s website shows that over the past six months, a total of four reports highlighting the relationship between the BNP, Tarique Rahman, and India have been published. None of these reports mentions any agreement signed by Tarique Rahman with India stating that he would refrain from taking action against the Awami League.

However, on November 15, 2025, the newspaper published a report titled “Khaleda’s Son’s Capital: New Delhi’s Friendship, Even the Liberation War.”

The report stated, “The BNP’s acting chairman has largely secured New Delhi’s support. According to sources in the Ministry of External Affairs, if the BNP comes to power, the existing agreements between India and Bangladesh will not be affected, and a promise has been received from Tarique that Bangladesh’s soil will not be allowed to be used in any way for anti-India activities.”

The report further stated, “According to Indian intelligence sources, New Delhi also needs the BNP to keep Dhaka on its side. The Awami League is unable to contest elections due to restrictions on its activities. Therefore, only the BNP can prevent the rise of hardliners in Bangladesh. If Khaleda’s party comes to power through elections, anti-India extremism in Bangladesh can be curbed. That is why, despite maintaining closeness with the Awami League, New Delhi has to stand by Tarique as a pragmatic measure, understanding the situation.”

In addition, another report titled “Tarique Returns, Delhi Hopeful About Relations,” published on December 25, 2025, was found. It stated, “At the beginning of December, sections of the media began reporting that India and the BNP had exchanged views. However, neither side spoke publicly about the matter. According to diplomatic sources, since Khaleda Zia was jailed in 2018, London has effectively been the BNP’s headquarters. Indian diplomats have reportedly made frequent visits there recently. Discussions between BNP officials and Indian representatives have also taken place in Dhaka.”

The report further said, “According to diplomatic circles, it is not exactly true that all understandings between the BNP and India have been smoothly resolved and that their joint journey is about to begin. However, to counter the anti-India strategies of Jamaat-e-Islami and the NCP, the Modi government had no better alternative than the BNP. It is no secret in South Block that Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League cannot be replaced by Tarique Rahman and the BNP. Even so, accepting all realities, Modi’s diplomatic and security agencies are mentally prepared to see the BNP in the role of rulers.”

Additionally, two more reports published on December 28 titled “Critic Tarique Is Not an Alternative for New Delhi” and on December 31 titled “Delhi Puts Trust in Khaleda’s Son’s Leadership, Modi’s Message in a Letter to Tarique, Remembering ‘Begum Sahiba’” were found, which also highlighted the relationship between the BNP, Tarique Rahman, and India.

Nowhere in these four reports published in Anandabazar Patrika over the past six months regarding the BNP and Tarique Rahman is it stated that Tarique Rahman signed an agreement with India pledging not to take any action against the Awami League if he came to power. There is also no mention of the existence of three such agreements.

It is noteworthy that the statements in these Anandabazar reports regarding the BNP and Tarique Rahman’s efforts to build good relations with India were made without citing any specific sources or evidence. No statements from the BNP, Tarique Rahman, or responsible officials of the Indian government were included in the reports.

Instead, vague sources such as “sources in the Ministry of External Affairs,” “diplomatic sources,” and “Indian intelligence sources” were used, raising questions about the credibility of the reports. Moreover, the nature of the claims presented in the reports is largely opinion-based.

Therefore, the claim made by Barrister Shahriar—citing Anandabazar reports—that Tarique Rahman signed an agreement with India is baseless.

Barrister Shahriar has been seen appearing on various talk shows, making statements in favour of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Recently, Barrister Shahriar created controversy at a public gathering by saying, “One must support Jamaat-e-Islami to go to heaven.” He later claimed that he had not made such a statement and that his remarks had been edited to spread misinformation. However, The Dissent’s verification found that Shahriar did make such a statement. His claim that he did not make the remark was, in fact, false.

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Shahriar Kabir Spreads False Claim About Tarique Rahman, Citing Anandabazar

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