BNP denies Tarique Rahman has handed in Bangladeshi passport

The BNP has rejected State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam’s claim that Tarique Rahman has submitted his Bangladeshi passport.

The party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has also threatened legal action over the claim.

“The state minister for foreign affairs lied completely,” Rizvi said at a news conference on Monday. “I challenge them to produce the Bangladeshi passport of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman if it has been submitted to the High Commission in London.”

Khaleda Zia’s elder son Tarique Rahman was arrested during the military-rule of the caretaker government. He went to London after receiving bail and has been there with his wife and daughter since.

Two years ago, the High Court sentenced Rahman to seven years in prison over a money laundering case. He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on Feb 8.

His mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has been in prison since the verdict in the case. The BNP appointed Rahman as acting chairman since his mother’s imprisonment and has been following his instructions from London.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said at an Awami League organised event in London on Saturdaythat Rahman would be brought home to face his sentence through ‘whatever means necessary’.

“I am speaking to the British government,” she said. “How can a convict live here? They must send him back quickly.”

The comments by Shahriar Alam at the same event were also reported by some media outlets.

“Tarique Zia has relinquished his Bangladeshi citizenship by submitting his green Bangladeshi passport to the High Commission,” The Daily Kaler Kantho quoted Alam as saying. “How can he take on the responsibilities of BNP acting chairman?”

Rizvi protested this statement on Monday.

“We will take legal action against the falsification by the state minister for foreign affairs that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman submitted his passport to the High Commission.”

Rizvi also criticised the Awami League leader.

“He lied about his political opponents to curry favour with the prime minister. It is the equivalent of selling your soul to preserve your ministerial post.”

The BNP leader brought up the cases of Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and her niece Tulip Siddique.

“The people who surrender their passports are those who marry foreigners and receive foreign citizenship and are holding various positions abroad.”

Rizvi claimed that the Zia family had not married any foreigner or taken foreign citizenship.