Charges framed against Tarique, 3 others in sedition case

A Dhaka court has framed charges against BNP Senior Vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, former ETV Chairman Abdus Salam and two others in a sedition case.

The two other accused are former ETV chief reporter Mahathir Farooki Khan and former special correspondent Kanak Sarwar.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Kamrul Hossain Molla on Monday fixed January 15 for trial of the case.

On 8 January 2015, the sedition case was filed with Tejgaon police station over the live telecast of a provocative speech by Tarique at a programme in London on 5 January.

According to the case statement, Tarique instigated his party men by delivering ‘provocative’ speech against law enforcers which led to anarchy in the country at that time.

Salam committed the same offence by broadcasting Tarique’s ‘provocative’ speech, which also posed a threat to the sovereignty of Bangladesh.

Salam, who was arrested on 6 January, in a statement before a magistrate confessed to sedition charges brought against him.

Tarique has been in London since 11 September 2008 on medical grounds after securing parole in various cases.