Main opposition party BNP’s senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman’s lawyer has sent a legal notice to state minister for law Quamrul Islam for making derogatory remarks about Tarique on Tuesday.
Tarique's lawyer Kaiser Kamal told Dhaka Tribune that the notice was served against Quamrul because he had said “Tarique was conspiring to oust the government from abroad.”
In the notice, the junior law minister was given two weeks’ time to withdraw his comment and reply to the notice, Kamal said.
He also said if Quamrul Islam did not withdraw his comment, Tarique Rahman would file a case against him within the provisions of the penal code.
Opposition chief Khaleda Zia’s eldest son Tarique Rahman, who faces at least 16 cases including the August 21 grenade attack case, has been living in London for “medical treatment” since September 2008 when he was released on bail.
He recently made the news on May 20 after addressing a party meeting in an East London hotel where he called party men to wage a tougher movement for toppling the government.
Labelling Tarique a “fugitive”, state minister for law Quamrul Islam said steps would be taken to bring him back to the country.
Just two days after the junior law minister’s comment, a Dhaka court issued a fresh arrest warrant against Tarique in a money laundering case following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The court directed the authorities concerned to bring Tarique back through Interpol.
On Monday,Tarique Rahman sent a legal notice through his lawyer to Environment Minister Hasan Mahmud for making “derogatory remarks” against him.
Barrister Kaisar Kamal sent the notice on behalf of Tarique.
On May 26, a Dhaka court directed the authorities concerned to bring back Tarique Rahman, senior vice-chairman of main opposition party BNP, through Interpol.