Tarique Rahman acquitted of bribery charges: Green light for political comeback

BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, is now free to return to Bangladesh and resume his political career following a court ruling that acquitted him of bribery charges. 

The much-discussed case was tied to the alleged exchange of bribes aimed at securing relief in a high-profile murder case.

The Special Judge‍‍`s Court-3, on Thursday, March 20, delivered its verdict, clearing not only Tarique Rahman but also former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and eight other individuals of all charges.

This decision brings an end to a legal battle that had cast a shadow over Rahman’s potential political return.

Tarique Rahman’s legal team, represented by Masud Ahmed Talukder and Borhan Uddin, confirmed the outcome. 

"With this acquittal, there is no longer anything stopping Tarique Rahman from returning to Bangladesh and continuing his political work," they stated.

The case stemmed from allegations that Rahman and others had accepted Tk 21 crore in bribes to secure immunity for Safiat Sobhan Sanvir, who was an accused in the murder case of Engineer Sabbir, a director at Bashundhara Group. 

The case was initially filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) during the tumultuous 1/11 period, a time of political upheaval in Bangladesh.

However, Tarique Rahman’s lawyers maintained throughout the trial that the ACC failed to provide any substantial evidence or witnesses to back up their claims. 

They further indicated plans to take legal action against the ACC for what they described as harassment through false allegations.

This ruling marks a significant development for BNP, as the acquittal effectively removes any legal hurdles that had been preventing Tarique Rahman from returning to the country and engaging in politics. 

His lawyers also confirmed that there are no other pending cases against Rahman in any lower court.

For BNP supporters and political observers, this outcome is expected to reshape the landscape, with Rahman’s return now seemingly imminent.

This acquittal paves the way for Tarique Rahman to potentially play a more active role in Bangladesh’s political future.