Law minister seeks UK help to prevent Tarique from distorting Bangladesh history

Law Minister Anisul Huq has sought the United Kingdom's assistance to prevent absconding BNP leader Tarique Rahman from distorting Bangladesh's history.

The BNP vice chairman has made headlines with controversial claims on Bangladesh's history and making derogatory remarks about the nation's founding father.

"I've personally told the British envoy that we won't tolerate Tarique's insolent remarks distorting history," Huq said at a programme in Dhaka on Thursday.

"[We hope] they (the UK) will not allow him to make such comments on their soil. We believe the British government will also take initiatives," he said.

Tarique, the presumed heir of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, has been in London since 2008. He is accused in dozens of cases including one for allegedly trying to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The High Court on Wednesday embargoed media coverage of his comments.

Minister Huq said, "We're doing all we can at the state level to stop his comments. We're trying to abide by the court's order in making him face trials."

Asked if it would be possible to bring him home, Huq told bdnews24.com that they were trying.

"The BNP is a party of terrorist and Tarique Rahman is a top terrorist," he added.