Dhaka, Dec. 25 -- Chief Advisor's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said the return of BNP leader Tarique Rahman will help fill a political "vacuum" in Bangladesh and make the country's democratic transition "smoother".

"We welcome him. He is the leader of Bangladesh's largest party, and his return will have a positive impact. There is a genuine political vacuum in the country, and his arrival will help fill that. With a major election ahead and the country going through a democratic transition, we hope this transition will now be smoother," he said on Thursday.

Asked about Tarique's security, Shafiqul said the BNP was overseeing it, adding that the government was providing all assistance requested.

Tarique arrived in Dhaka shortly bef...