Police yesterday submitted probe report against BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman for terming Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “Pakbandhu (Friend of Pakistan)” and spreading distorted information about the 1971 Liberation War.
DB Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Md Jewel Rana, also investigation officer of the case, submitted the report to a Dhaka court saying that Tarique was found guilty of making derogatory comments on Bangabandhu.
The DB police earlier got approval from the Home Ministry.
Accepting the report, Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Asaduzzaman Nur set November 8 for holding a hearing on the probe report in presence of the complainant.
President of Bangabandhu Foundation lawyer Moshiur Malik filed the case (condemnation of the creation of the state and advocacy of the abolition of its sovereignty) on October 19 last year with the Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court under section 123 (A) of the Penal Code.
After hearing the charges, the metropolitan magistrate ordered the DB police to submit a probe report. Meanwhile, the court also asked the complainant to seek Home Ministry’s permission to file the case as it is mandatory for bringing any sedition charge.
The case statement stated that Tarique termed the father of the nation “Pakbandhu” while addressing a discussion titled ‘‘Bangladesher Prothom President Biswaneta Shaheed Ziaur Rahman: Prekhkhit Bangladesh” held at York Hall in East London on September 29 last year.
At the function, Tarique also claimed Zia as the first president of Bangladesh.
Son of military strongman and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and incumbent Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Tarique has been staying in London along with his family since 2007. He is facing a number of criminal and corruption cases including the one for launching grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004.
The petitioner came to know about Tarique’s remarks the following day from a news report published in the daily Kaler Kantho.
Tarique also said: “Sheikh Mujib is not Bangabandhu [friend of Bangladesh], rather he is Pakbandhu. He cannot be the father of the nation, he is a killer. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman considered the Pakistani occupation forces safe instead of lakhs of his countrymen on March 25, 1971 [when he was arrested by the Pakistani forces].”
Referring to the report, the petitioner accused Tarique of engaging in a pernicious campaign against Bangladesh’s history, its Liberation War and the role of Bangabandhu.