A UK minister Wednesday said his country’s judiciary would decide on whether BNP senior vice-chairman, Tarique Rahman, would be sent back to Bangladesh upon receiving information about the arrest warrant issued against him.
Responding to a query about the British government’s stand on the issue, their International Development Minister Alan Duncan said: “I appreciate and urge you to understand this would not be a decision for politicians.
“We have an independent judiciary and therefore it is not a question you could sensibly put to a politician, because we are not the people who decide anyway.”
The minister avoided the question when asked if Tarique is seeking political asylum in the UK. “We don’t comment on the individual asylum matter,” he said at a press briefing.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, in a separate press briefing, said the BNP leader is a “non-political person” and termed him a “fugitive.”
Without mentioning the name of the BNP leader, the minister said he signed an undertaking that he would not take part in politics.
When asked what the foreign ministry is doing to bring Tariuqe back to the country through Interpol, she said: “Is he still holding that post? I have read the undertaking [given by Tarique Rahman]. He left the country relinquishing the political post he used to hold.”
The Bangladeshi minister said an arrest warrant had been issued against the BNP leader and he did not surrender to the court.
“A warrant of arrest has been issued against him quite a while ago in connection with a case that is under trial. But, he did not come, appear or surrender. Therefore, he is a fugitive.
“The United Kingdom government has been informed about the arrest warrant, as well as Interpol, so he may be brought back.”
