State Minister for Home Shamsul Hoque Tuku on Tuesday said BNP's Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman will have to face the court after his return to the country as he faces criminal charges.
"There are criminal cases against Tarique Rahman. He has to face the court like others who have criminal charges against them. The courts also want him to come back home and face trial. The courts will decide whether he will get bail or not," he said during an iftar party for the journalists at his office.
Rejecting the BNP leaders' claim that the ruling Awami League will be blown out after Tarique's return in politics, Tuku said: "Awami League is a 64-year-old political party. It is not so easy to blow out the Awami League from politics."
He said the main opposition BNP had been trying to oust the government, but failed. "They have conspired to oust the government with their allies Jamaat and others, but they failed. They tried to create unrest and sabotage the country. Lastly, they tried in association with Hefazat-e-Islam. But, the people of the country ruled them out. It will not be possible again," the state minister said.
Urging the opposition to join the next national elections, to be "held like in other democratic countries," Tuku said: "They do not need to oust the government after Eid through movements as the tenure of the government remains only two months.
