Dhaka: Instead of law of the land and rule of law, the country is being run on whims and words of ruling Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said main opposition BNP’s Standing Committee member barrister Rafiqul islam Mian on Sunday.

Addressing a discussion at National Press Club auditorium in the afternoon, Barrster Rafiq said, “The country is passing through a critical juncture as it is not being run by state law and institutions, rather the country is being run on whims and words of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. So there is no rule of law in the country or independence of the judiciary.”  

“The country is passing through a critical time. We don’t want the repeat of 1/11-like situation. It’s the present government, not the Zia family, that will have to pay heavily if another 1/11 takes place,” he told the discussion.

Tarique Rahman Freedom Council organized the protest rally and discussion to express its anguish over issuance of an arrest warrant against Tarique Rahman and move against his repatriation through Interpol.  

Criticizing the ill-propaganda campaign against Tarique Rahman, senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mian said, “A political remark made by Tarique Rahman in a political programme in London has shaken the foundation of the repressive Awami League regime and after that State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam said Tarique would be brought back through Interpol while the Home Minister is saying that Tarique had breached the undertaking he had made before his release on bail.”   

“But we want to make one thing clear, Tarique Rahman was tortured brutally by the Army-backed caretaker government following the 1/11 changeover and they had made an attempt to kill Tarique in custody and had broke his backbone. So to save his life, he was taken to London for treatment.”

“Whenever the doctor would give clearance, Tarique Rahman would return home and join politics. The arrest warrant would not require for bringing him back to his own country. Because he was not a convicted or fugitive person. He is on bail he has obtained from the High Court.”

But the government through ill-propaganda campaign is trying to taint the reputation and good political image of the Zia family to perpetuate their power.  As part of the AL political vengeance and victimization, the government has been filing cases one after another to damage the political reputation. The government had already implicated Tarique Rahman in fake money laundering case and August 21 grenade attack case with ulterior motive,” he added.

“But the people of the country will foil all conspiracies and ill-attempts of the AL-led government against the Zia family,” said Rafiqul Islam Mian.  

He also demanded immediate withdrawal of the arrest warrant and false cases against Tarique Rahman.

Ends/MH/AMA/09/06/13