Tarique seen in public amid Interpol notice

BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, on whom Interpol has issued a red notice recently, was seen at the namaz-e-janaza of a Jasas leader in England's Birmingham on Wednesday.

His public appearance has raised questions if he could be arrested and deported from the UK following the notice.

According to the UK government, a request from Bangladesh to extradite a person like Tarique, now in London, would need approval by both the UK secretary of state and court.

On Wednesday, the BNP leader was flanked by 10 to 15 bodyguards when he went to a mosque to attend the janaza of Angur Miah, who was the president of Birmingham unit of Jasas, BNP's cultural wing.

BNP sources said Tarique had also travelled to Belgium on April 14 to discuss party activities with party members in that country.

Home ministry officials in Dhaka said a request to find and arrest Tarique was made to Interpol General Secretariat about three months ago but the notice was issued recently.

The Interpol notice was served in connection with Tarique's alleged involvement in the August 21, 2004, grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Dhaka that left 24 people dead.

The Interpol website also shows Tarique's photo and his details in its “wanted persons” section.

The BNP leader came to the UK six years ago for treatment and now resides in this country with his family. However, his residency status is not clear.

Some sources said he had claimed to be a political asylum-seeker.

Tarique has created a lot of controversy with his views on Bangladesh's historical events expressed while addressing various BNP meeting in the UK.