Tarique faces 14 cases
Tarique Rahman, who has been accused in the August 21 grenade attack case, came into political limelight when he was promoted to BNP leadership as the senior joint secretary general during BNP-led four-party alliance regime in 2002.
Tarique, son of late president Ziaur Rahman and former premier Khaleda Zia, soon became one of the most powerful persons in the country and attracted tremendous amount of attention and gave rise to much curiosity and widespread criticism through his involvement in much talked about "Hawa Bhaban" activities.
According to the charge sheet submitted by the criminal investigation department, Hawa Bhaban, which was considered the "alternative powerhouse" during the last BNP-led regime, had links with the heinous grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004 that killed 24 leaders and workers of the party.
Despite all criticisms, Tarique, currently under treatment in London, is still being dubbed as "the future leader of BNP" by the party's leaders and workers.
His promotion to the post of senior joint secretary general of BNP was in recognition to his contribution to the party's landslide victory in 2001 general election.
But his political opponents always described him as "the epicentre of crime and corruption".
According to his lawyers, Tarique, now the BNP senior vice-chairman, has 14 cases against him, most of which were filed during the last military backed caretaker government for corruption and extortion.
He was even arrested on March 7, 2007, but released on September 3, 2008 on bail. He flew to London with his family for medical treatment on September 11, 2008. He has since been living there.
At the time of his departure from Bangladesh, he was compelled to sign a statement in which he said he was retiring from BNP politics. Later at a press conference, Khaleda Zia also announced that Tarique will be away from politics until he fully recovers from his illness.
But he was elected the senior vice-chairman of the party through the fifth national council held on December 8, 2009.
He joined BNP in 1993 as a primary member of the party's Gabtali upazila unit under Bogra district, and became a district committee member the same year.
After becoming the senior joint secretary general, he started holding "grassroots representative conferences" which geared up the party across the country, and made him popular among the party's rank and file.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments