HC dismisses sabotage and sedition cases against Khaleda and Tarique

The Supreme Court (HC) today (October 31) dismissed two cases filed against BNP Chief Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman on charges of sabotage and sedition during the Awami League rule.

The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain struck down a rule by quashing a sabotage case filed against Khaleda before the Darus Salam police during the previous government.

Khaleda was represented at the hearing by five senior lawyers, including Advocate Mahbub Uddin Khokon.

Speaking to journalists, Mahbub said that there has been a stay of execution regarding this case since 2016 and that the court decided to release Khaleda on bail in this case. “The case was rejected with today’s decision.”

Yesterday (October 30), the HC dismissed 11 other sabotage and rebellion cases against two-time prime minister Khaleda.

Meanwhile, the same bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain today also dismissed the sedition case filed in 2015 against BNP Deputy Chairman Tarique and three others.

The other three accused are Ekushey Television Chairman Abdus Salam and journalists Mahathir Farooki and Kanak Sarwar. Lawyer Shahdeen Malik represented Salam at the hearing.

Advocate Mahbub said that initiating this case was illegal and hence the HC dismissed the case.

On January 5, 2015, Ekushey Television broadcast Tariq’s speech live.

The next day, Tejgaon police sought permission from the home ministry to file a case against Tarique and Salam. On January 8, the then Tejgaon police inspector Borhan Uddin filed a sedition case against Tarique and three others.

After a long legal struggle, HC issued a decision to suspend the case in 2017. The hearing on the rule was held on Thursday, and after the conclusion of the hearing, the case was dismissed.