BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, living in London since September 2008, surrendered his Bangladeshi passport to the UK Home Office, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam told journalists at an AL reception in London.
He (Tarique) doesn't have any valid Bangladeshi citizenship document," Shahriar said. How can Tarique be BNP acting chairperson? He is not a Bangladeshi citizen, he added. Tarique is living in exile in London since 2008 after securing parole in several cases on medical grounds. He is facing 14 charges, of which four, including the August 21 grenade attack, where 24 people were killed, are on trial and the rest are stayed. Tarique and four others have been sentenced to 10 years in jail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday expressed her firm resolve to repatriate BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman from London by any means and bring him under the ambit of the law. "We'll bring him back to the country by any means InShaAllah, and put him under trial," she said.
The Prime Minister was speaking at a reception accorded to her marking the graduation of Bangladesh to a developing nation from the least developed country.
Sheikh Hasina said she has already talked to the British government in this connection. "[I told them] he is a convicted criminal, how he's staying here. So, return him quickly," she said. The Prime Minister also mentioned that the government is continuing its process to bring him back.
Home Ministry again took the initiative to bring back Tarique Rahman through the global policing agency Interpol.
Former prime minister Khaleda Zia was sentenced to five years in jail for misappropriating funds meant for the orphans. The swindled funds were a grant to the Zia Orphanage Trust, the charity named after Khaleda's slain husband Ziaur Rahman, during her 1991-96 tenure as prime minister.
Police officials said Bangladesh sent a message to Interpol on February 11 in 2015 to issue a Red Alert against Tarique Rahman following his conviction in 21 August grenade attack case. And accordingly, the Interpol published a Red Alert on its website on April 13 in 2015, but it withdrew the notice on January 28 in 2017.
Interpol issues the Red Alert to help detect a fugitive criminal but it is an individual country's jurisdiction whether the fugitive would be arrested or deported to his country of origin. Interpol media centre did not provide any information regarding the date when the Red Alert was issued upon Tarique and said that according to their privacy policy cannot divulge information to any individuals but only to authorities concerned.
Person against whom the Interpol has issued Red Alert has not been extradited from the United Kingdom so far due to legal complexities. The British government does not extradite fugitives back home even if they have extradition treaty with the country, as the higher court has the final say.
Law Minister Anisul Haq said Tarique Rahman will be brought back home through the Interpol for executing the High Court verdict pronounced against him.
