Narail Judicial Magistrate Court-2 Judge Amatul Morsheda delivered the verdict on Thursday and fined him Tk 10,000. He will have to spend another six months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.

Tarique Rahman is currently staying in London.

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According to the prosecution, on December 16, 2014, Tarique dubbed Bangladesh’s founding father a ‘razakar’ (collaborator) and “friend of Pakistan” in his speech at a banquet hall in London. His comments were later published in some Bangladeshi national dailies, triggering criticism and demands for his punishment.

Shahjahan Bishwas, former commander of Kalia Upazila Freedom Fighters’ Council, filed a defamation case against Tarique on December 24 the same year.

Also read: Tarique, Fakhrul sued for issuing ‘death threat’ to PM’s family

Defamation complaint against Khaleda, Tarique

On December 10, 2020, another defamation complaint against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique was lodged accusing them of instigating Islamist leaders to deliver anti-sculpture speeches.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh chief Junaid Babunagari, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Nayeb-e-Ameer Faizul Karim and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque and Syed Faijul Karim of Islami Shasantantra Chhatra Andolan were also named in the complaint.

According to the complaint, Islamist militants led by Khaleda Zia vandalised the sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Kushtia.

Also read:  Anti-sculpture speech: Defamation complaint against Khaleda, Tarique dismissed

Later, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court Judge Sattyabrata Shikdar dismissed the complaint.

On December 5 last year, an under-construction sculpture of Bangabandhu was vandalised in Kushtia.

On November 13, Islami Andolan’s Karim and Hefazat’s Mamunul opposed the setting up of the sculpture.