Tarique Rahman charged with sedition

The Detective Branch of police has submitted probe report against BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman for terming Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “Pakbandhu (Friend of Pakistan)” and spreading distorted information about the 1971 Liberation War.

Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Md Jewel Rana, the investigation officer of the case, submitted the report to a Dhaka court on Sunday saying that Tarique was found guilty of making derogatory comments about Bangabandhu.

The DB police earlier got approval from the Home Ministry.

Accepting the report, Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Asaduzzaman Nur set November 8 for hearing on the probe report in presence of the complainant.

October 19 last year, lawyer Moshiur Malik, also president of Bangabandhu Foundation, filed the case (condemnation of the creation of the state and advocacy of the abolition of its sovereignty) with the Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court under section 123 (A) of the Penal Code.

After hearing the charges brought against Tarique, the metropolitan magistrate ordered the DB police to submit a probe report.

Meanwhile, it also asked the complainant to seek Home Ministry’s permission to file the case as it is mandatory for bringing any sedition charge.

The case statement stated that Tarique termed the father of the nation “Pakbandhu” while addressing a discussion titled ‘‘Bangladesher Prothom President Biswaneta Shaheed Ziaur Rahman: Prekhkhit Bangladesh” held at York Hall in East London on September 29 last year.

Son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and incumbent Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Tarique has been living in London since 2007. He is facing a number of criminal and corruption cases.

The petitioner came to know about it the following day from a report published in the daily Kaler Kantho. Tarique also said: “Sheikh Mujib is not Bangabandhu, rather he is Pakbandhu. He cannot be the father of the nation, he is a killer. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman considered the Pakistani occupation forces safe instead of lakhs of his countrymen on March 25, 1971 [when he was arrested by the Pakistani forces].”

Referring to the report, the petitioner accused Tarique of engaging in a pernicious campaign against Bangladesh’s history, its Liberation War and the role of Bangabandhu.