A Jessore court on Monday acquitted BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman in a sedition case filed in 2014.
Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam of Jessore's District and Sessions Judge’s Court passed the verdict.
According to the case statement, on January 22, 2014, SM Afzal Hossain, then-organizing secretary of the district unit of the Awami League, filed the case, alleging that Tarique Rahman made derogatory, hateful, and contemptuous remarks against Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which amounted to sedition.
Police submitted a charge sheet against Tarique on April 21, 2014.
Public Prosecutor and Jessore BNP President Syed Saberul Haque Sabu said: “Initially, the case proceeded to the charge-framing stage, but an appeal was later filed for its withdrawal.”
He explained that under the law, a sedition case can only be filed if the alleged victim held an official position in the state at the time of the offence. "Since Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not in any official state position at that time, the case was deemed inadmissible."
Earlier, a petition seeking the dismissal of the case was rejected by a magistrate court.
However, upon revision, the District and Sessions Judge’s Court acquitted Tarique Rahman, canceled all arrest warrants against him, and dismissed the case.
