File sedition cases against Tarique: Suranjit

Senior Awami League lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta on Friday suggested the Ministry of Home to immediately file sedition cases against Senior BNP Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman for violating the constitution by claiming that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was an ‘illegal’ prime minister.

“If Tarique Zia’s remarks were manifestation of his ignorance or stupidity then the BNP-led 18-Party Alliance should confess this and seek apology to the nation or else the matter should be resolved through legal action,” the veteran Awami League leader said while addressing a discussion at the auditorium of the Institute of Diploma Engineers of Bangladesh (IDEB) in the city on Friday.

Less than two weeks after making the astounding claim that Ziaur Rahman was Bangladesh’s first president, Tarique Rahman, elder son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said at a discussion in London on Apr 8 that Bangabandhu was an 'illegal' prime minister of Bangladesh.

In this regard, Suranjit said: “Tarique Zia’s comment is neither the raving of a half-educated youth nor stupidity or ignorance. There’s a deep conspiracy behind his comment.”

“They (BNP) want to create social divisions in the country through such wilful distortion of the country’s history after 43 years of the Independence,” he added.

The Awami League Advisory Council Member suggested that the citizenship of those who did not believe in the country’s Independence and were distorting its history and Constitution should be cancelled.

He termed as traitors those who intentionally misinterpret the Constitution for political reasons. “They will be encouraged if their conspiracies are nipped in the bud.”

“The Ministry of Home should file cases against those committing sedition. Or else, the Ministry of Law can proceed legally by issuing an ordinance.”

He stressed legal action was necessary to uphold the Constitution and not as a retaliatory measure.

Speaking at a discussion organised by the Bangabandhu Academy, the former railways minister also urged the government to take stern action against communal violence on Hindu minorities across the country.

“The Hindus were leaving the country in silence. If this problem is not addressed, there would be a great crisis,” he said.

He said the people had very high expectations of the present government.