State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said on Monday BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman along with his wife and daughter handed over their passports to the British Home Office four years ago which indicates that they do not want Bangladesh nationality, reports UNB.
"Had he wanted renewal of passport or extension of validity, he would have handed it over to Bangladesh High Commission in the UK. But, he submitted it to the British Home Office. What does it mean? As a political person, I think, it's the refusal of nationality," he told reporters at his Gulshan residence.
Mentioning that this is interesting that a convicted criminal has sent him a legal notice, Shahriar said he is ready to face it legally as he has all the evidence regarding submission of passport. "I welcome it. I'm ready to face it," he said, adding that it is good to know that BNP got back confidence in the law of the land.
The state minister said the passports of Tarique, his wife and daughter were returned to the High Commission on June 2, 2014 through the British Home Office. "Now, they've no travel documents to come to Bangladesh," he added.
Replying to a question whether Tarique is now a Bangladeshi, Shahriar said, "I think no."
Earlier in the day, Tarique sent a legal notice to Shahriar asking him to prove in 10 days his remark that he has relinquished his nationality by submitting Bangladeshi passport.
Or else, the BNP leader threatened to file both criminal and civil cases against Shahriar Alam.
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