AL asks Tarique to show his passport

The ruling Awami League today asked BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, now in London, to show his Bangladeshi passport in support of his claim that he did not give up Bangladeshi citizenship.

"Tariqul Rahman surrendered his Bangladeshi passport to British home office by post," Awami League acting general secretary Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan said while addressing a press conference at the party president Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi political office in Dhaka.

While addressing a reception hosted by the UK Awami League in honour of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's London visit, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said Tarique Rahman, gave up his nationality by handing over his Bangladesh passport.

Rejecting the statement, BNP at a press conference today threatened to go for a legal action against the junior minister terming his statement as baseless.

Besides, Tarique Rahman through his lawyer sent a legal notice to the state minister for seeking proof within the next 10 days over the allegation that he has given up his Bangladeshi citizenship by submitting his passport.

Tarique, elder son of BNP chief and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has been living in London since he left Bangladesh in 2008 during the caretaker government rule and since then, he did never renew his passport through Bangladesh High Commission, Swapan said.

"We will welcome BNP if it can show any evidence of renewing his (Tarique) passport," said Swapan who is now acting general secretary of the party in absence of Obaudl Quader.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam did not dish out any falsehood rather he disclosed the fact, he said.

"We will respond legally if any legal notice is sent protesting discloser of the fact," he added.