-  Sedition charges pressed against Tarique Rahman

- He called Bangabandhu “Pakbandhu” a year ago

- Court will hold hearing on the charges on November 7

Police today pressed sedition charges against BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman in connection with a case filed for calling Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “Pakbandhu” (friend of Pakistan).

Jewel Rana, an assistant commissioner (Detective Branch-Motijheel Zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, today submitted the charges to the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur.

Rana in his probe report mentioned that they have found truth of seditious allegations against the BNP leader.

Before submitting the charges, the investigation officer took approval from the home ministry which is mandatory for bringing sedition charges against any person.

The court will decide on November 7 whether the charges will be accepted or not.    

On October 19 last year, Advocate Moshiur Rahman Malek, president of Bangabandhu Foundation, filed the lawsuit with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka.

Following a hearing, the court asked police to submit a probe report on the issue after getting approval from the home ministry.

In his case statement, Moshiur alleged that Tarique called Sheikh Mujibur “Pakbandhu” at a discussion in London.

“Sheikh Mujibur Rahman cannot be Father of the Nation. He returned to the country with a Pakistani passport. Someone who accepts Pakistani passport even after Bangladesh’s independence is a citizen of that country according to law,”

Tarique made the remarks while addressing the discussion at York Hall in East London on September 29 last year.

“One day it will have to be explained how a Pakistani citizen became a president or prime minister of Bangladesh,” the BNP leader warned.

Tarique, now staying in London, faces over 18 criminal cases on different charges including August 21 grenade attack. 

Of the cases, trial of August grenade attack and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases is going on in separate courts.