Tarique virtually living an exiled life for AL conspiracies: Fakhrul

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged Thursday that their party senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman has virtually been living an exiled life in London due to conspiracies by the Awami League (AL) government, reports UNB.

"Tarique Rahman is leading a life in exile due to constant conspiracies by the Awami League regime and its hostile attitude towards him. On his 50th birthday, we pray to Allah so that he can return home soon," he said.

The BNP spokesman made the comment while talking to reporters at BNP' s Nayapaltan central office after cutting a cake marking Tarique's 50th birthday celebrations. Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dla arranged the programme.

Mirza Fakhrul said Tarique's leadership alongside BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is very crucial now to restore democracy in the country and people's basic rights.

"We parry to Allah so that he can return home very soon to lead the nation alongside our leader (Khaleda) to restore democracy and people' s all rights," he added.

Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member and Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum president Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miha said they will celebrate Tarique's next birthday with him in the country.

"We'll celebrate Tarique Rahman's birthday next year together with him in Bangladesh," he made the remarks while celebrating the BNP senior vice chairman's 50th birthday at the Supreme Court Bar Association building by cutting a cake arranged by the forum.

Tarique, the eldest son of BNP founder late president Ziaur Rahman and its current chairperson Khaleda Zia, was born on November 20, 1965 in Bogra.

BNP and its associate bodies chalked out various programmes to celebrate his birthday in a befitting manner.

Earlier Wednesday night, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia cut a huge cake at her Gulshan office, arranged by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) marking Tarique's birthday.

JCD also arranged a drawing competition and documentary screening programme on the premises of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh on the occasion.

Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a BNP front organisation, arranged a voluntary blood donation programme and free health service from 10am in front of the party's Nayapaltan office on Thursday.

Tarique has been staying in London since 2008. He was arrested on March 7, 2007 during the then army-backed interim regime and freed from jail on bail on September 3, 2008.

Meanwhile, Voicing optimism that their party senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman will return home soon, Dhaka city unit BNP convener Mirza Abbas said Thursday they will build fortified forts in Dhaka and all other parts of the country to ensure his smooth homecoming,.

"Tarique Rahman will return to his homeland as soon as he recovers from illness. We'll build unassailable forts in Dhaka and all over the country so that he doesn't face any obstruction to his homecoming," he said.

Abbas, also a BNP standing committee member, came up with the remarks while inaugurating a drawing competition and documentary screening programme arranged by BNP's student body Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at thne Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, premises marking Tarique's 50th birthday.