BNP chief Khaleda’s son Tarique ineligible to run for election after conviction

The conviction of BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman for laundering has dealt another blow to the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia – he cannot run for public office.

He will get the option back only if the Supreme Court stays or reverses the High Court verdict that overturned his acquittal in the case and sentenced him to prison for seven years.
 
For the Supreme Court option, Tarique will have to return from London and challenge the latest verdict first.
 
According to the Section 66 (2D), “A person shall be disqualified for election as, or for being, a member of Parliament who – has been, on conviction for a criminal offence involving moral turpitude, sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years, unless a period of five years has elapsed since his release.”
 
The Section 12 of the Representation of the People Order also stipulates the same condition for elections to Parliament.
 
Tarique, fined Tk 200 million in the same High Court verdict, will not be allowed either to contest in local government elections.
 
Referring to these laws, Election Commission Senior Assistant Secretary Farhad Hossain told bdnews24.com there was no scope for Tarique to contest elections.

“But there will be no bar on his running the elections if the verdict is stayed,” he added.

Tarique joined politics by becoming the senior joint secretary general of BNP a decade ago when his mother was prime minister.

He was promoted to senior vice-chairman in the 2009 party council and retained the post, uncontested, in March this year.

Accused in dozens of cases related to corruption, sedition and libel, including one over attempted assassination of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Tarique has been in London since 2008.

He went to the UK for treatment after his arrest during the 2007-8 caretaker government.

Tarique is yet to test his popularity in a recognised election.

He got BNP’s ticket in the Jan 22, 2007 election, but the nomination was cancelled later.

The next parliamentary election is scheduled to be held before Jan 24, 2019.

After the verdict on Thursday, Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government had not initiated the process to bring Tarique back, but now it will pursue every legal measure.

He, however, pointed out that Bangladesh did not have an extradition treaty with the UK.

“There is a possibility (to have him repatriated here) through the Interpol. If a treaty is needed, we will start discussions,” added the minister.

The BNP on Friday said Tarique will return and appeal against the High Court verdict ‘in time’.

Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, adviser to Khaleda, said, “This is against any form of justice. The High Court’s verdict is biased.”

“If Allah wills, there will come a time when Tarique Rahman will return to this land. We will appeal against this and prove how the case was lodged without any legal basis,” he added.  

bdnews24.com reached BNP Standing Committee member Mahbubur Rahman, who said he had no idea what the party was doing with regard to the matter.

He advised to contact Tarique in London instead.

The former army chief, however, agreed with Law Minister Huq that Tarique will not be able to appeal until he is in Bangladesh.