Freedom fighters ask govt to put Tarique on trial

Freedom fighters have asked the government to bring back BNP leader Tarique Rahman to Bangladesh and put him on trial for his ‘indecent and audacious’ remarks about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Muktijoddha Sangsad made the demand on Monday from its demonstration and human chain programmes held across the country in protest against Tarique’s remarks.

Sangsad’s Central Command Council Chairman Helal Morshed, while speaking at a programme in Chittagong, has given the government two-week time to bring the BNP senior vice-president back from the UK.

Otherwise, ceaseless agitations would be launched at district and Upazila levels, he warned.

Tarique called Bangladesh’s independence architect Sheikh Mujib a Razakar at a function on Dec 15 in London, where he is staying since his parole for medical treatment in 2008.

The BNP leader claimed that it would not have taken nine months to defeat the Pakistani forces had Sheikh Mujib started the war on Mar 7, 1971.

According to him, the ‘small number’ of Pakistani soldiers then present in Bangladesh could have been easily defeated and the death toll and economic damage ‘could have been much less’.

"After knowing all these, whom can we solely blame? Sheikh Mujib. And we’ve called him a 'Razakar' after analysing the facts."

Tarique has been sued at different places in the country for his remarks and several courts have issued arrest warrants for him.

Muktijoddha Sangsad held the demonstration and human chain programmes from 11am on Monday at district towns.

Sangsad’s central and local leaders addressed the programmes.