BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman has been acquitted in a sedition case filed at a Joypurhat court over allegedly making derogatory remarks about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The verdict was announced by Chief Judicial Magistrate Shyam Sunder Roy on Wednesday afternoon, granting Rahman relief from the charges.
According to Advocate Shahnoor Rahman Shahin, the Public Prosecutor (PP) of Joypurhat Court, the case was filed on December 22, 2014, by Abu Bakkar Siddique Reza, the then-General Secretary of Joypurhat District Chhatra League.
The complaint alleged that Tarique Rahman, during a discussion in London organized by BNP in December 2014, referred to Bangabandhu as a "collaborator" and "Pakbandhu" (friend of Pakistan). These comments were reported in the press on December 17, 2014, and were cited as causing significant distress to the complainant, who claimed defamation worth one crore taka.
The complainant, as a Bangladeshi citizen, filed the case in protest of what he considered a conspiracy against the sovereignty of Bangladesh. Following a hearing, Joypurhat Senior Judicial Magistrate Tajul Islam directed the police to take appropriate action upon approval from higher authorities. Subsequently, Joypurhat Sadar Police Station officially recorded the case on May 28, 2015, following presidential approval.
After a thorough investigation, the Investigating Officer, SI Mokhlesur Rahman, submitted a charge sheet to the court on November 3, 2016. The case underwent a lengthy trial and after detailed hearings, the court acquitted Tarique Rahman of all charges.
Public prosecutors Shahnoor Rahman Shahin PP and ATM Mujahidul Alam Muna ADPP represented the government while Advocate Nazmul Islam Jony defended the accused.
Following the verdict, the Joypurhat District BNP organized a celebratory procession which toured the city and concluded at the party office.
