Quader to EC: Should Tarique Rahman conduct interviews for BNP nominees?

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has registered his objection to Tarique Rahman, who is a fugitive after being convicted in three cases, conducting video interviews of potential BNP nominees for the upcoming election.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 18 Nov 2018, 09:21 AM
Updated : 18 Nov 2018, 11:38 AM

“I ask the people – should a convicted, sentenced felon be taking part in the party’s forum and providing them with his opinions?” he said. “I want the people to judge. And I want the Election Commission to take note.”

The road transport and bridges minister made the remarks in response to questions from the media at the Secretariat on Sunday.

Nominees for the BNP ticket began sitting for interviews with the party’s parliamentary board on Sunday morning at the BNP Chairperson’s Office in Gulshan.

According to the interviewees, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman took part in the interviews via video conference.

Tarique Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, has been living in London for a decade with his family after leaving the country during the state of emergency presided by the caretaker government.

Bangladesh courts have sentenced Rahman to 17 years in prison over two corruption cases and life in prison over the Aug 21 gerenade attack.

Khaleda Zia, who has also been sentenced to prison over two graft cases, has been in prison since February. Tarique Rahman has been serving as the BNP acting chairperson from London in her stead. But the participation of both BNP leaders in the polls remains in doubt and is up to a decision from the courts.

The High Court recently issued an instruction to the Election Commission to bar a proposed amendment to the BNP’s charter that would allow those convicted of corruption to remain in positions of power in the party. This has blocked Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman’s official leadership of the party.

Awami League leader Quader asked whether Tarique Rahman can take part in the deliberations regarding the BNP candidates in this situation.