Tarique's comments seditious: AL

The ruling Awami League has termed seditious BNP leader Tarique Rahman’s statement that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became prime minister in 1972 "illegally".

“His lies about the established facts are similar to treason against the state,” AL Publicity Secretary Hasan Mahmud said at a press conference, reports the Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

The ruling party organised the conference at the party chief’s Dhanmondi office to give its reaction to the recent comments of the senior vice-chairman of BNP.

Diplomatic initiative for bringing Tarique back to the country was under process, the former environment and forests minister added.

Tarique on Tuesday in a meeting at Westminster Hall in London claimed, "Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to the country on January 10 [of 1972] and became prime minister on January 12. There was no constitution in the country... So should we not say that he was the illegal prime minister?"

"Sheikh Mujib's daughter Sheikh Hasina remains the prime minister forcibly just like her father, who became prime minister in 1972 illegally and forcibly," insisted Tarique, who has been in London, where he went for treatment after securing a parole in corruption cases, since 2008.