Tarique obtains new passport

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Tarique Rahman, undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital since his release on bail on Wednesday, has obtained a new passport and will apply for British visa on Sunday.

“Yes, he has got given a fresh passport and will fly off as soon as he gets the visa,” his counsel, Nasiruddin Asim, yesterday said.

Nine passports–four each belonging to Tarique and his wife, and one to his daughter Zaima Rahman– are claimed to have been gone missing from his in-laws’ Dhanmondi residence.

“He may get visa within 48 hours if he can produce valid documents. He has valid visa obtained long ago,” confirmed a source at the British High Commission.

Family members said Tarique would stay at BSMMU for a few more days under the supervision of doctors and is likely to leave the country by the end of next week for treatment abroad.

Tarique, the eldest son of detained former premier Khaleda Zia and senior secretary general of BNP, was released on bail after 18 months of detention.

Tarique’s sister-in-law, Shahina Khan Zaman, told The Daily Star over telephone last night that the family was already in touch with different hospitals in England and Germany, including Hamersmith Hospital in London, for Tarique’s treatment.

Tarique’s physician Mazharul Islam, meanwhile, said Tarique is quite rid of mental stress since being released.

Idris Ali — under whose supervision Tarique is being treated — said he has referred the BNP leader to get admitted in a London hospital.

A number of politicians, including Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid, BNP leader MK Anwar, president of Islami Chattra Shibir Zahidur Rahman, meanwhile, visited Tarique at the hospital yesterday.

Earlier on Wednesday night, Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar and deputy-speaker Akhter Hamid Siddiqui also visited Tarique at the hospital. They talked to him for a while and enquired about his health.

Shahbagh police has taken up the charge for Tarique’s security. A team of police has already been posted in front of the cabin at the entrance of Block-D of BSMMU where he is staying.

BNP has announced special prayers at mosques across the country after Jum’a prayers today.

“Special prayers will also be held at places of worship of other religions,” a BNP press release issued yesterday said.

The special prayers are being arranged to pray for early recovery of the ailing BNP leader and secure the release of his mother.

Meanwhile, the government yesterday filed three petitions with the Supreme Court (SC) to stay the High Court orders, granting bail to BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman who recently got released on bail in three cases.

Sources said attorney general’s (AG) office will move the petitions before the vacation bench of chamber judge of the Appellate Division on September 8.

Tarique’s counsel barrister Nasiruddin Ahmed Asim yesterday told The Daily Star that the government’s appeals for staying the HC bails to Tarique Rahman would not affect his (Tarique) release since the apex court had granted him bail on health and humanitarian grounds after examining his medical report prepared by a medical board.

He also said the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had earlier filed six petitions with the SC for staying Tarique’s bail in separate cases, but the chamber judge had refused to grant their prayers.

Responding to separate bail prayers, the HC recently granted bail to Tarique in 12 cases filed by the ACC, the government and individual persons. Even the SC granted Tarique bail on August 28 in a bribery case, paving the way for his release.

Of the total 13 cases filed against Tarique, eight are for extortion and the rest for corruption, tax evasion and bribery.

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