The government is in talks with the UK to extradite BNP leader Tarique Rahman from London, says Law Minister Anisul Huq.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, he said, “The discussions centre on the process of bringing back a convict from aboard. And we have received positive responses. I would not further comment on the issue, until he is extradited.”

Replying to a query from the press after inaugurating a workshop for judicial officials, Huq said that Bangladesh has no extradition treaty with the UK, but a ‘Mutual Assistance Act’ exists.

“According to that law, extradition of suspects in some specific cases is possible. The Act exists in the legal systems of both countries as well as in the UN system,” said the law minister.

BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique is now leading the party from exile since his mother, party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, was jailed for five years in a corruption case on Feb 8.

He, too, was convicted in the same case and sentenced to 10 years in jail. The BNP acting chairperson has been also found guilty of money laundering and received a 7-year term.

Tarique, who faces trials in several others charges, including for an assassination attempt on Hasina, went to the UK in 2008 after he was released in parole during the military-installed caretaker regime.