BNP’s Tarique faces sedition charge for calling Bangabandhu ‘Pakbandhu’

Police yesterday pressed sedition charges against BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman in connection with a case filed for calling Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “Pakbandhu” (friend of Pakistan).

After finding truth of seditious allegation, Jewel Rana, assistant commissioner (Paltan Zone) of Detective Branch (DB) of police of Dhaka Metropolitan Police,   yesterday submitted the charges to the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur. Jewel is also the investigating officer (IO) of the case.

Before submitting the charges, the IO took approval from the home ministry as it is a mandatory provision for bringing sedition charges against any person.

On November 7, the court will decide whether the charge will be accepted or not.    

On October 19 last year, advocate Moshiur Rahman Malek, president of Bangabandhu Foundation, lodged the lawsuit with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka.

After the hearing, the same court asked the police to submit a probe report on the issue after getting the home ministry's approval.

In his case statement, Moshiur alleged that Tarique had called Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “Pakbandhu” at a discussion in London.

“Sheikh Mujibur Rahman cannot be the Father of the Nation. He returned to the country with a Pakistani passport. Someone who accepts Pakistani passport even after Bangladesh's independence is a citizen of that country according to law,” said Tarique.

“One day it will have to be explained how a Pakistani citizen became a president or prime minister of Bangladesh,” the BNP leader warned while addressing the discussion at York Hall in East London on September 29 last year.

Tarique, now staying in London, faces over 18 criminal cases, including August 21 grenade attack cases. 

Of the cases, trials of August grenade attack and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases are going on at different courts.