Desk report
There is a lot of discussion in the political arena about the return of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to the country. There are rumors that Tarique Rahman may return to the country in the first half of February of the new year. BNP sources said that the security situation is being monitored as part of the preparations. Even a house is being searched for Tarique Rahman. In the meantime, a delegation from the United Kingdom has visited Bangladesh to review the security situation.
Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed left for the UK on Friday morning. He will meet the acting chairman of BNP in the UK. It is also believed that when he returns from this visit, new information may come about Tarique Rahman’s return to the country. When asked, BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told Ajker newspaper yesterday that efforts are being made to free him (Tareque Rahman) from the cases and bring him to Bangladesh as soon as possible. There is no date, the matter depends on the lawyers and the court.
Party sources said that there are rumors within the party that Tarique Rahman may return to the country in the first half of February. In addition to the legal proceedings against him, overall preparations are in full swing, including monitoring the security situation. Even a house is being searched for for him.
Several sources close to the party and Tarique Rahman said that a four-member delegation from the UK came to Bangladesh earlier this month in anticipation of the BNP acting chairman’s return to the country. The group returned to the UK before Victory Day. They checked on Tarique Rahman’s security while in Bangladesh. During this time, the party also spoke to lawyers about Tarique Rahman’s case. The delegation also searched for a house for Tarique Rahman
A source close to Tarique Rahman said that upon returning home, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to first move to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s residence Firoza. But since it will not be possible to conduct political activities from there, a separate house is being arranged for him. The delegation from the UK has seen several houses around Firoza during its stay in the country. However, no one has agreed to speak publicly about these matters.
On August 5, the Awami League was ousted from power through a student-public uprising; then an interim government was formed under the leadership of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Immediately after the change of heart, discussions about Tarique’s return to the country intensified. Party leaders and activists believe that his chances of returning have become brighter, especially after his acquittal in the grenade attack case on August 21.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir returned to the country on December 12 after a 12-day visit to the UK. Regarding Tarique Rahman’s return to the country, he told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport that there are many false, vindictive cases against him (Tareque Rahman). He will return if they are withdrawn or settled through the court.
BNP-backed lawyers say that most of the cases filed against Tarique Rahman are false and politically motivated. The cases are being dealt with according to the prevailing laws of the country. Most of the defamation cases filed against him have been dismissed. There are still 24 defamation cases. These are awaiting hearing. In addition, he has been convicted in four cases. Those will also be heard soon.
When asked, BNP’s Central Legal Secretary and Tarique Rahman’s lawyer Barrister Kaiser Kamal said yesterday that Tarique Rahman will take necessary steps regarding his return to the country at the right time. He (Tareque Rahman) wants every case filed against him to be resolved through legal process.
Tarique Rahman was arrested on March 7, 2007, during the One-Eleven government. After being released on bail on September 3, 2008, he went to the UK with his family for treatment on September 11. He has been in London since then. While in London, on February 8, 2018, after his mother, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, went to prison, Tarique Rahman took over as acting chairman as per the party constitution. He has been running the party from there.
