LOOKEAST REPORT
The ‘fugitive’ and convicted eldest son of Begum Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman has surrendered his green passport to Bangladesh High Commission in London.
Bangladesh state minister for foreign affairs, Shahriar Alam disclosed the news at a reception organised by the UK unit of the Awami League, in London.
Tarique Rahman gets 7 years in jail and is also fined $2.5 million, as seen in this March 8, 2007 file photo.
The 72–year–old three–time former prime minister, Begum Zia was sentenced by the Dhaka’s Special Court in connection with the embezzlement of 21 million taka (about USD 250,000) in foreign donations meant for the Zia Orphanage Trust, named after her late husband Ziaur Rahman, a military ruler–turned–politician.
Tarique was made the acting chairman of BNP after his mother Begum Khaleda Zia was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment in the corruption case on February 8, 2018.
Rahman fled to London in 2008 after he was detained by an army–backed government for more than 18 months.
In 2016, he was convicted in absentia and sentenced to seven years in jail on charges of money laundering.
Having served as the Senior Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Tarique is an extremely high profile political figure. But he stands accused of large scale bribery.
His release occurred despite multiple pending cases against him on charges of corruption, extortion, bribery, embezzlement and tax evasion.
As the Senior Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Tarique is an extremely high profile political figure. But he stands accused of large scale bribery. His release occurred despite multiple pending cases against him on charges of corruption, extortion, bribery, embezzlement and tax evasion
Tarique has now been accused by the government of instigating violent attacks on the London Bangladesh High Commission and on Awami League minister Arif Khan Joy.
His telephone conversation with Dhaka university teachers indicate he is trying to create unrest in the country by remote control. Media reports have also said he was sending funds to terror groups when London Police pounced on one of his associates and seized the equivalent of 136 crore BD taka. ■
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