| Tarique Rahman | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Born: | November 20, 1967 (44 years old) |
| Office: | Senior Vice Chairperson |
| Political Party: | Bangladesh Nationalist Party |
| Spouse: | Dr. Zubaida Rahman |
| Residence: | London, United Kingdom[1] |
| Religion: | Islam |
| Children: | Zaima Rahman |
Tarique Rahman (Bengali: তারেক রহমান ) (also spelled as Tarek Rahman) (born November 20, 1967) is a Bangladeshi politician. He is the Senior Vice Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). His nickname is Pino, which is less used by the public than the nickname, Coco, of his younger brother Arafat Rahman. He is also popularly known as Tareq Zia, the reminiscent of his father's main name.
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Tarique is the elder son of former President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam, and Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. It is not known what is his educational qualification. Since 1988 he worked in the textiles industry, setting up a number of textile mills, notably Dandy Dyeing, and in the water transport sector, purchasing several boats launches, notably Coco (named after the nickname of his younger brother Arafat) series of launches shuttling between Dhaka and Barisal Division. Tarique is married to Zubaida Khan, the youngest daughter of Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, former Chief of Naval Staff of Bangladesh Navy. Zubaida Khan is a physician working in the government. Their daughter Zaima who studies at the International School Dhaka is fourteen years old. Zubaida is also the first cousin of Irene Khan, the former head of Amnesty International.
The 5 national council of BNP 2009 elected Tarique Rahman senior vice-chairman of the party.[2] In 1993 he started his political career as a primary member of the party's Gabtali Upazila and later Bogra District committee member.[3] In June 2002, he was appointed as Joint Secretary General of BNP by its Standing Committee. After taking office as the Senior Joint General Secretary, Tarique launched a program called "Grassroots Level Conference" in every district of the country as well as "Divisional conferences" and "Upazila Conferences" aiming to know the view of party workers.[4] He also attended hundreds of party meetings all over the country. Many leaders of the party accompanied him in those meetings. While visiting in 2002, Tungipara Upazila of Gopalganj District, Tarique visited the tomb of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and paid respects on behalf of the BNP showing political tolerance.
Tarique also contributed towards establishing various welfare organizations. He also visited several parts of the country to motivate the poor people to be self reliant in many ways by establishing like poultry, dairy and fish farm.[5]
It has been alleged that Tarique was involved in corruption while the BNP was the ruling party. The Central Working Committee of the Awami League, at a meeting chaired by Sheikh Hasina, called on the party's front organizations to lay siege to BNP Chairman Rahman's office at Hawa Bhaban on 21 April 2004, demanding the shutdown of 'the seat of unbridled corruption'. Hasina called upon the people to stand united and 'topple' the BNP-Jamaat coalition government, as in 1996.[6] As per Star , one of the pro-government newspapers, views and editorial, "The Hawa Bhaban, dubbed as the alternative power center within the government, has been at the center of controversy since the BNP and its allies came to power, with widespread allegations of corruption and abuse of the government power leveled against the office of the BNP Chairperson".[7][8]
During caretaker government twelve cases filed against Tarique where charged with three cases, two of which are for corruption and another for extortion. The High Court stayed the proceedings of the cases.[9] At present he is on bail in all cases[10]
On March 7, 2007 Tarique was arrested from his house at Dhaka Cantonment while he was having meeting with a group of militants.[11][12] It is not only Tarique, but his mother Khaleda Zia and younger brother Arafat Rahman (Coco) were also arrested on Sept 3, 2007 by caretaker government.
A huge contrast between Tarique's health while being arrested in March 2007 and months later raised question of human rights abuse on him against the Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed government. However, no proof have been found against any torture against Tarique.[13] His condition deteriorated and jail officials confirmed that he was facing difficulties to make even a slightest physical move. Members of his medical board stated that the deterioration of his physique seems to be result of falling upon a hard surface from a high place and being hit by something hard. The thing was clear that Tarique was being tortured inside custody all along. The court initially rejected his lawyers' appeal to keep him away of remand. As a result, weeks later he attended the trial arriving by an ambulance, from where he was completely unable to get off by himself. This time the court put him on remand for 1 day.[14]
Rahman's release efforts got motion following his bail at five charges at a row during August 2008. The military-controlled interim government on September 3, 2008 released ailing Tarique on bail after about 18 months’ imprisonment. Several thousand BNP activists and supporters had crowded the hospital and its fringes at Shahbagh to celebrate Tarique’s release.
Following the release of Tarique's mother Khaleda Zia on September 11, 2008 Rahman was set to fly for London, United Kingdom due to overseas treatment at Wellington hospital in London an Independent private hospital in St. John's Wood, North West London. In the airport he was compelled to sign a statement regarding force retirement from BNP politics in Bangladesh.[3] At a press conference, Khaleda Zia announced that Tarique will be away from politics until he fully recovers from illness. "Doctors say it will take at least two to three years for him to pull through," she said. At present, Tarique is living in a rented accommodation in Edmonton, London, with his wife and daughter, and receiving treatments for his broken spinal cord.
The Anti corruption Commission has filed a new money laundering case against Tareque and his friend and business partner, Giasuddin Al Mamun, which BNP claims politically motivated and cases are being filed as part of the conspiracy of the immediate past caretaker government to refrain Tareque from doing politics.[15] However, on October 16, 2009 the High Court issued a rule asking the government and the Anti Corruption Commission Bangladesh to explain why the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case against former prime minister Khaleda Zia and Tareque Rahman should not be quashed on a petition filed by Khaleda Zia.[16]
On 20 November 2009 BNP student front Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) organized a seven-day celebration program in observance of 45th birthday of Tareque Rahman at his paternal district Bogra. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia attended the colorful program as the chief guest. She began her journey from Dhaka in the morning followed by a large motorcade of nearly a thousand vehicles. At least five hundred gates were built in Bogra and hundreds of enthusiasts bearing banners, posters and placards welcomed the former premier at different points chanting slogans. Bogra town was illuminated and decorated with portraits of Tarique Rahman and his parents- former president Ziaur Rahman and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia.
Khaleda said her son Tareque Rahman would take part in active politics on his return from abroad after completing treatment. She addressed a few street meetings on her way to Bogra and alleged that the present government is trying to harass her son so that he cannot return to the country. She said, "Tareque worked for the development of the country, but a lot of cases were filed only to destroy him as a part of national as well as international conspiracies" She also added, "On March 7, 2007, he was picked up in a car right in front of me. But after the custody my son had to be sent abroad in a stretcher for treatment... Doctors have said his recovery will take more time... Pray for him so that he can come back to you."[1] She alleged that the last caretaker government lodged false cases against Tarique and tortured and sent him abroad to make her party lose in the general elections.[3] Speaking on the occasion, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said popularity of the present government had hit rock bottom and they now consider Tareque Rahman as a threat. "New cases are being filed so that he cannot return," he added.[17]
On 13 November 2010 his mother Khaleda Zia was evicted dishonorably from her 37 years old Dhaka Cantonment residence upon High Court order.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nazmul Huda |
Senior Joint Secretary General, Bangladesh Nationalist Party 2001-2009 |
Succeeded by Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir |
| Preceded by creation of post |
Senior Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Nationalist Party 2009 |
Succeeded by incumbent |
|}