Although the country’s law minister Anisul Huq on February 14 told the nation that the number of cases is ‘eight’, according to BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s lawyers, more than one hundred cases are undergoing trial at present at different courts in and outside the capital.

BNP’s Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman has been sentenced in two cases filed over money laundering and corruption charges. In addition, 19 more cases are under trial in Dhaka courts including two cases over August 21 grenade attack. An arrest warrant has been issued against Tarique in most of these cases, besides the warrants issued in other cases from outside the capital.
Defying the existing fact, Law Minister Anisul Huq, in reply to a query of lawmaker Fazilatun Nesa Bappi on February 14, told the Parliament: “Tarique Rahman has been sentenced in two cases, and eight cases different charges including August 21 grenade attack are under trial.”
According to sources and media reports, Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Tarique and his friend Giasuddin Al Mamun with Cantonment thana in the capital, on October 26, 2009. On July 6, 2011, a Dhaka court in the verdict of the case acquitted the BNP leader while awarded his friend with seven years imprisonment and TK 4 million fines.
On July 21, 2016, in response to a state appeal, the higher court cancelled the lower court’s verdict, sentencing Tarique with seven years imprisonment.
On February 8 last, Dhaka Special Judges’ Court-5’s Justice Akhtaruzzaman sentenced Tarique for 10 years rigorous imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case also. His mother and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is now serving a five-year term being sentenced in the same case. More four convicted have been also awarded 10-year rigorous imprisonment in this graft case, filed on July 3, 2008, by the ACC with Ramna thana in the capital.
According to sources and reports, two cases filed over August 21 Grenade attack, one murder and one under explosives act, are undergoing trial at testimony stage at Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1. May 15 and 16 next have been fixed for the hearing of arguments in the case. Tarique is accused in both cases.
Zia Charitable Trust graft case where Tarique and Khaleda both are accused is undergoing trial at Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-5. June 4 has been fixed for placing arguments in the case.
On June 14 next, Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Quamrul Hossain Molla’s court will hear the deposition of witnesses of a sedition case filed against the fugitive BNP leader. Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sadbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhury’s court is set to hear another case filed against Tarique on July 8 next.
Three Dhaka magistrate courts are set to conduct proceedings of three other cases filed against Tarique respectively on May 16, 29, and June 25.
Most of the cases filed against Tarique Rahman are on charges of defamation, using abusive words about Bangabandhu, and over distorting history of the Liberation War. In addition, a number of cases are on money laundering, corruption, murder and attempt to murder charges.
Commenting on the root cause behind so many cases against a single person, Syed Zainal Abedin Mejbah, a lawyer for the accused, told the Bangla Tribune, “Although baseless, all the cases have been filed to kick out Tarique Rahman from politics.”
Contacted, Advocate Sanaullah Miya who stands for Tarique and Khaleda in the court, told the Bangla Tribune: “More than one hundred cases have been filed against Tarique Rahman across the country, only to harass him politically.”
However, Mosharraf Hossain Kajal, a senior lawyer and also the public prosecutor in the cases, said, “It is not right that the cases were filed to harass him (Tarique) politically.”