Trump Invitation to Tarique Rahman Declared a Hoax

Staff Correspondent

Dhaka: The United States embassy in Dhaka has dismissed claims that Tarique Rahman and other BNP leaders were invited to a “National Prayer Breakfast” event hosted by Donald Trump.

On Saturday night, embassy spokesperson Asha Bey clarified that the United States government has no involvement with any event called the “National Prayer Breakfast.” She said the US is not organising such a programme.

Several Bangladeshi media outlets had reported that BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were invited to the event. The reports cited BNP’s press wing as the source of the information.

The BNP’s media cell also posted on its verified Facebook page, claiming the leaders were invited to attend the event in Washington, D.C., on 5-6 February 2025. However, the US embassy refuted the claim, stating the government is not associated with any such event.

The embassy added that Tarique Rahman remains under sanctions imposed by the US in 2009, which prohibits his travel to the country. There is no information suggesting the sanctions have been lifted.