Tarique's acquittal proves cases were politically motivated: BNP

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed relief over the High Court's acquittal of Tarique Rahman in the 21 August grenade attack cases, stating that the verdict shows all the cases against their party's acting chairman were politically motivated and conspiratorial.

"Tarique Rahman was acquitted by the High Court after legally facing the charges brought against him," he said in a statement today (1 December).

Fakhrul, now in London, issued the statement following the High Court's verdict in the two cases filed over the 21 August grenade attack.

The judgement has shown that the fascist Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government accused Tarique Rahman in these cases of political motives, he said.

"Through this historic verdict, it has been demonstrated once again that all the cases filed against Tarique Rahman were political conspiracies," Fakhrul added.

Earlier, at a press conference at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office, party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi expressed his satisfaction, saying that justice has been served as the High Court acquitted Tarique Rahman and the others convicted in the two cases.

Rizvi said when retired police officer Abdul Kahar Akhand was reappointed and made the investigation officer of the cases during the Awami League rule, it became clear to them that the government had malicious intentions.

The BNP leader also alleged that the Awami League government had used state power to forcibly convict Tarique Rahman and other BNP leaders in the cases.

"We have got the proper judgement from the apex court. Some of the justice for which we have been engaged in a long political struggle has been reflected in the verdict," he said.