Rulers turning Tarique Rahman into 'Zia'?

by Tania Mehzabin Shanta
September 15, 2009

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/276/rulers-turning-tarique-rahman-into-zia

Tarique Rahman or Tareq Rahman is Senior Joint Secretary-General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP]. He is the eldest son of former President of Bangladesh, the late Major General Ziaur Rahman and his wife Khaleda Zia, a former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the current Leader of Opposition of the country's parliament. He was appointed as the Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP in 2002 by BNP standing commute. Tarique Rahman is now living in exile in London, as the military controlled interim government, under the directives of former army Chief Moeen U Ahmed, brought series of charges against him since Bangladesh's democracy was hijacked by a group of military men under the cooperation of some so-called civil society members.

Tarique is the youngest leader to become Joint Secretary-General of BNP. He was elevated to this position in June 2002, in response to rising demand from ranks and files of the Party, in recognition of his contribution in last general election, which brought a landslide victory. Tarique identified the challenges for BNP and planned its strategies and tactics to cope with the situation. In 1998, he established a research cell for the party and drew in the expertise of academics, professionals and business entrepreneurs along with the experiences, of politicians to plan for the future of the party.

Tarique worked to establish a competitive edge in the textiles industry and in the river transport sector. However, his passion has remained in politics, being inspired by the ideals of his father as well as his mother. It is widely claimed that his father Ziaur Rahman, who declared Independence in March 1971, following the genocide, inspired the people for the liberation war.

On 07 November 1975 Ziaur Rahman once again captured the imagination of the people, when he was freed from captivity through a mass upsurge defeating the traitors and agents of foreign power. Ziaur Rahman re-introduced popular democracy, multi-party system, free press and open market policy. He was extremely popular and was elected President of the country in 1978. Tarique was a teenager when his father was assassinated in 1981.

Tarique Rahman favors of promoting investments for industrialization and development of the service and IT sectors of Bangladesh. He believes in the expansion of the country's private sector.

When army controlled interim government arrested Tarique Rahman along with a large number of politicians, including the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of corruption, a number of influential leaders of a particular political party, in collaboration of some senseless army officers, conspired to kill Tarique Rahman inside the prison, fearing, he would one day, become the new generation 'Ziaur Rahman' in Bangladesh. As part of such conspiracy, Tarique Rahman was thrown from around 12 feet height on the floor, being blind folded and hands handcuffed, inside a torture cell located in Dhaka Cantonment.

A huge contrast between Tareq's physique while being arrested on 7 March 2007 and months later raised question of human rights abuse on him against the government. After some months under arrest, Tareq lost his ability to walk by himself and lost the ability to stand without help. Some days later his condition deteriorated and jail officials confirmed that Tareq was facing difficulties to make a slightly physical move. Members of his medical board stated that the deterioration of his physique seems to be result of falling upon a hard surface from a respectable altitude and being hit by something hard. The thing was clear that Tareq was being tortured inside custody all along. The court initially rejected his lawyers' appeal to keep him away of remand. As a result, weeks later he was seen to attend the trial by an ambulance, from where he was completely unable to get off or to be taken to the court room. This time the court seemed to be taking his torture allegations seriously and reject government's appeal to have him remanded. He was kept in BSMMU where his doctors were constantly admitting about brutal torture over him. Later, a chain of medical tests ratified the fear that doctors did earlier. The X-ray reports showed that three of 24 vertebras of his vertebral column have been broken and completely shattered. His lawyer Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia debated at the court saying, "The arrest of my client was made public and people saw the photographs of him walking on himself. My client is young and what could have happened to him that within months he will be unable to walk? What could have happen to him that his vertebral bones will be shattered?"

Since the second week of August, seeing the activities of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its affiliates, it is becoming quite clear that Tarique Rahman may end his life in exile soon and come back to Bangladesh to participate in the re-organizing of the party as well facing those questioned charges brought against him by the previous military controlled interim government. Can Tarique Rahman restore his image in Bangladesh? Can he prove to be a true and genuine successor of President Ziaur Rahman? Can he fulfill the aspirations and hopes of the people of Bangladesh, are the questions of time.

Latest: Two separate petitions were filed on September 15, 2009 with the High Court for quashing proceedings against former prime minister Khaleda Zia and her elder son Tarique Rahman in Zia orphanage trust corruption case.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan filed the petitions on behalf of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.

The Anti-Corruption Commission on July 8, 2008, at the instigation of military controlled interim government, filed the case against Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman and others with Ramna Police Station in Dhaka.

Earlier on September 7, 2009 the trial court [Metropolitan Session Judge' took into cognisance the charges against Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman and four others in the case for embezzlement of TK. 21.10 million by forming charge in Zia Orphanage Trust.

After hearing both the prosecution and defence, Judge ANM Bashir Ullah of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court took the decision in presence of Khaleda and two other accused, and fixed October 25, 2009 for next hearing of the case.

The court issued arrest warrants against former principal secretary DR Kamal Uddin Siddiqui and Khaleda's nephew Mominur Rahman as they have been absconding since the case was filed.

The court also said proceedings of the case against Tarique would continue in his absence since he had earlier gone to London for treatment with permission from the Supreme Court [SC].

Pro-Awami League lawyer Advocate Musharraf Hussain Kajol appeared in the court on behalf of the prosecution as he was appointed Special Public Prosecutor by the previous military controlled interim government.

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