Dhaka: Bangladesh has asked Britain to repatriate the ‘fugitive’ elder son of former premier Khaleda Zia to face trial on massive graft charges.

Tarique Rahman, opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party's senior vice-president, is wanted on charges of graft and a deadly grenade attack, reports PTI.

A Dhaka court on 26 May issued a warrant ordering Tarique to face trial on graft charges brought by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) during the 2006-2008 emergency rules under the army-backed caretaker government.

 “Our High Commission in London has handed over a letter to the British authorities seeking Tarique Rahman's return. .. the copy of the court's arrest warrant ordering his arrest was also provided to the British authorities,” a senior foreign ministry official said.

The official said the letter was sent to the British Foreign Office last week also pointed out that a Dhaka court ordered Bangladesh foreign ministry to execute the warrant engaging the Interpol as Tarique Rahman was living in London since 2008.

The British High Commission officials in Dhaka were unavailable for comments on Dhaka's request.

Tarique Rahman is also being tried in absentia by another court on charges of masterminding the 21 August 2004 grenade attack on a rally of the then Opposition Awami League of incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Tarique maintained a low profile in exile as he was charged under a series of graft and criminal cases.

The warrant came a week after he was seen at a BNP meeting in East London recently demanding restoration of caretaker government system for election oversight. Tarique Rahman's younger brother also fugitive Arafat Rahman Koko is currently living in Bangkok apparently to evade justice for siphoning off huge amount money during the 2001-2007 BNP rule.

Ends/AMA/09/06/13