Dhaka: Prime Minister's Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly today said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's position among TIME magazine's 100 most influential people of the world for 2026 is a matter of pride for the country and its democracy-loving people. "It is a matter of pride for the country's independence and its democracy-loving people of Bangladesh. The previous fascist government used the courts to block the dissemination of his (Tarique Rahman) speech for at least a decade," he told BSS this evening.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the press secretary expressed his views following Tarique Rahman's inclusion in the prestigious list by the New York-based TIME magazine. This recognition, he stated, demonstrates that while propaganda can mislead people temporarily, truth and reality ultimately prevail.
Shibly further emphasized that Tarique Rahman is not only a leader in Bangladesh but is also considered a leader among democracy-loving people worldwide.
Tarique Rahman, who is also the ruling BNP chairman, joined other notable figures such as US President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Pope Leo XIV, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah, and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on the list.
Time Magazine unveiled the list today, with Tarique Rahman being recognized under the category of "leaders".