Salahuddin Ahmed's acquittal by Indian court in a tresspassing case has raised curiosity inside BNP over his recent involvements in the party politics.
An Indian court on Tuesday acquitted BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed in the case filed against him over trespassing into India.
While talking to Bangla Tribune on Wednesday, he said that he wants to return to Bangladesh as soon as possible.
The news of Salahuddin Ahmed's acquittal has already drawn interest inside the party as the leader already participated several virtual meetings of the standing committee while staying in India.
Though there was no presence in the party's politics for the last seven years, he has been dramatically joining the standing committee meetings for the past one month.
For seven long years, there was no visible effort on the part of the BNP for Salahuddin's release, but his sudden participation in the standing committee meeting has left many curious.
Even influential BNP leaders are also in the dark about the acquittal in Indian courts, especially within a month of his participation in the party activities.
Some BNP leaders are suspecting that there may be a secret behind it. However, no leader has commented on what exactly is the secret.
However, Salahuddin's name was not mentioned in the press release issued after the virtual meeting of the standing committee.
Lutfur Rahman Kajal, former MP of Cox's Bazar-3 constituency, central fisheries secretary of the party, said: “We are happy with the news of his (Salahuddin Ahmed) acquittal. However, I have not received any news that he participated in the meeting of the standing committee.”
When asked about the matter, member of BNP's foreign relations committee, central organizing secretary Shama Obaid said: "Salahuddin Ahmed was arrested on false charges, it has been proved by the judgment of the Indian court and he has been acquitted.”
On October 26, 2018, the court of the first-class Judicial Magistrate, DG Kharshiing, acquitted Salahuddin Ahmed in the case and asked the state government to take the necessary steps for his immediate repatriation.
After remaining missing for around two months, Salahuddin, a former state minister, was found in Shillong, the capital of the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya, on May 11, 2015.
He was arrested for entering India without any valid documents. A case was filed against him under the Foreigners Act.
Later, Shillong police pressed charges against him in the case.
However, BNP claimed that Salahuddin was picked up from a house in the city's Uttara area on March 10, 2015, allegedly by unidentified men who introduced themselves as detectives.
Salahuddin was joint secretary general of BNP at the time of his detention in India in 2015. Chairperson Khaleda Zia elected party standing committee members in his absence in 2016 in the sixth national council.
Two important leaders of the party claimed: "The Indian government wanted to end the issue of Salahuddin Ahmed proactively." Soon after the Covid-19 pandemic, an official of India informed several leaders of BNP that the issue of Salahuddin will progress only in the due process.
Several influential leaders of BNP told the Bangla Tribune on Wednesday night that Salahuddin Ahmed had been participating in the standing committee meetings for the past one month. The two leaders claimed that he is joining the meeting only because of the interest of acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
BNP Chairperson's press wing member Shairul Kabir Khan said: "I don't know anything about this."
A reliable source of BNP mentioned that the main observation of BNP after the acquittal of Salahuddin is now the government's observation. BNP leaders are taking into consideration what role the government plays.
However, the BNP leaders and activists are not worried if he is shown arrested in any case after returning to the country, added the sources.
Party Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu said: "I don't know the current situation of Salahuddin Ahmed's cases. However, it is not clear how much kindness the government can show if there is a case. And he himself is a political leader well versed in law.
“Whether he will surrender to the court after returning to the country, it is not right to comment until he comes,” said the BNP leader.
“My priority now is to return home. I want to return to the country as soon as possible," Salahuddin Ahmed said while talking to Bangla Tribune on Wednesday afternoon.
Regarding Salahuddin Ahmed's return to the country, a lawyer said, if no warrant is issued against Salahuddin Ahmed in any case after returning to the country, then he will lead a normal life. And if there is, then he has to surrender to the court or take bail.
The party still has no information when he will return, said BNP Lutfur Rahman Kajal.