BNP leader Shamsuzzaman Dudu on Wednesday said the party’s Senior Vice Chairperson Tarique Rahman was longing to return to Bangladesh despite cases pending against him.
“He (Tarique) wants to return soonest after consulting his doctor,” Dudu, Advisor to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said.
“Tarique Rahman is in London for medical treatment. He wants to return home soonest,” Dudu told mediapersons at the BNP’s Naya paltan headquarters.
Dudu said the government should create a ‘proper atmosphere’ for Tarique’s return. “When he lands at Dhaka airport, the government will realise how popular Tarique Rahman is.”
Tarique has 20 cases pending against him, among them a money laundering case, in which a Dhaka court has ordered his arrest, saying it will ask Interpol to execute it to bring the BNP leader back for trial from London, where he currently resides.
Tarique, elder son of Khaleda Zia, was arrested during the last caretaker regime. He took bail and went to London in 2008 with his family. He stayed on, ostensibly for medical care.
Lying low for a while, he was back in the headlines this May after campaigning for a caretaker administration for parliament polls during a function in East London on May 20.
He called upon expatriate Bangladeshis to mount pressure on the government on the issue and that attracted severe criticism from the Awami League.
Dudu alleged that government-supported media was into false propaganda against Tarique.
“Tarique’s speech (in London) shook the foundation of this government. All, including the Prime Minister, her cabinet and lawmakers are now against Tarique.”
“But with what result ? In no case has the court been able to pin him down,” said Dudu.
Dudu lambqasted Environment Minister Hasan Mahmud and Junior Law Minister Qamrul Islam for their ‘derogatory remarks’ on Tarique, who has already sent legal notices to both ministers threatening legal action if they dont apologise.
Source: Bd news24
