An arrest warrant was issued on Monday against BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and two journalists in a sedition case.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Kamrul Hossain Molla passed the order in response to a “provocative speech” given by Tarique at a programme in London on January 5, 2015.
According to the case statement filed with Tejgaon police station three days later, Tarique incited his party men to violence against law enforcers which led to anarchy in the country at that time.
Former Ekushey TV (ETV) chairman Abdus Salam had committed the same offence by broadcasting the speech on his television channel, posing a threat to the sovereignty of Bangladesh, the statement added.
Sub-Inspector Md Borhanuddin filed the case, additionally accusing former ETV chief reporter Mahathir Faruqui Khan and former ETV special correspondent Kanak Sarwar.
The arrest warrants were only issued against Tarique, Mahatir and Kanak as they did not appear before the court during Monday’s hearing.
Tarique has been in London since September 2008 on medical grounds. He is also facing other cases filed over different charges, including the August 21 grenade attack.
Abdus Salam was arrested from near the ETV office in Karwan Bazar on January 6, 2015, in connection with another case. He has since secured bail from the High Court Division.
On September 6 last year, Detective Branch Inspector Emdadul Haque, also the investigating officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet.
On Monday the court also directed the officer-in-charge of Tejgaon police station to submit a report by November 20 on the execution of the arrest warrant.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
