Tarique Rahman acquitted in defamation case

BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman has been acquitted of a defamation case filed five years ago over derogatory remarks about the Awami League.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court Judge Arafatul Rakib delivered the verdict on Sunday.

Along with Tarique Rahman, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, and Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi were also acquitted in the case.

Tarique Rahman’s lawyer, Zainul Abedin Mezbah, confirmed the information.

According to court sources, the hearing for witness testimony was scheduled for today. However, no witnesses had appeared for a long time, prompting the defense to apply for the case's dismissal.

Following the hearing, the court acquitted the defendants under Section 247 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The case had been filed in 2019 by AB Siddique, president of the Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad.