Dhaka court issues arrest warrant for Tarique Rahman

Cases have been filed in courts across Bangladesh against BNP leader Tarique Rahman for calling Bangabandhu Shekih Mujibur Rahman a 'Razakar'.

An arrest warrant has been issued in one of these cases.

Four ruling Awami League supporters filed the cases on Thursday in Dhaka, Chittagong and Comilla courts.

The court of Dhaka's Metropolitan Magistrate Younus Khan ordered the BNP leader’s arrest in a defamation suit filed by lawyer Mostafizur Rahman Dulal.

But the court took no cognisance of Dulal's allegation of treason against him.

The court of Comilla's Additional Judicial Magistrate Shafikul Islam has summoned Tarique in a libel suit filed by advocate Subir Nandi.

Speaking at a programme in London on Tuesday, Tarique claimed that it would not have taken nine months to defeat the Pakistani forces, if Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had started the war on Mar 7, 1971 with the help of the Bangalee army officers.

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 this, who can we solely blame? Sheikh Mujib. And we have called him a 'Razakar' after analysing the facts. We have labelled him Pakbandhu (friend of Pakistan) on the basis of actual incidents," said the BNP leader, who is living in London since 2008.

A ruling party student front leader in Chittagong Nurul Azim lodged a complaint over the statement in the port city's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court.

It accuses Tarique of treason. The court kept its order pending.

Meanwhile, a defamation complaint has been lodged in Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court by Md Abdul Manna, leader of Awami League's affiliate, the Hawkers' League.

It made BNP's Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and Khaleda Zia's advisor Mir Nasiruddin, who were also present at the London programme, party to the case.

The court of Metropolitan Magistrate Maruf Hossain is expected to hear the matter on Thursday.

Tarique, who is living in London since 2008, had been stirring up controversy over Bangladesh’s founding father for quite some time.

Several libel suits have been filed in different courts across Bangladesh over his statements.

On Dec 10, a Dhaka court had issued a warrant for his arrest in one such case.