Dhaka: BNP on Wednesday condemned the pressing of sedition charges against its senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman saying it was an unjustified and undemocratic move.

‘It can’t be a logical step in any way to bring sedition charges against our senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman. We strongly oppose and denounce the move,’ said BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, ‘We think the charges were brought against Tarique as part of the government’s evil efforts to harass him. It’s an unjust, undemocratic and uncivilised move.’

On Sunday, Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) submitted the probe report against BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman in a sedition case filed for terming Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ‘Pakbandhu’.

On 19 October 2014, president of Bangabandhu Foundation Adv Moshiur Rahman Malek filed the case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka.

According to the case statement, Tarique Rahman termed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ‘Pakbandhu’ while he was addressing a programme in London on 29 September 2014.

Defending Tarique’s remarks, Ripon said their leader’s remarks were not his own as he mentioned those with references from different books and articles on the Liberation War.

‘If any sedition case is needed to file it should be lodged against the writers of those books and articles. Instead of doing that, the sedition charges were brought against Tarique Rahman. So, it’s not a justified action,’ the BNP leader observed.

He alleged that the government is trying to harass its political opponent using the administration and abusing law instead of facing it politically as the regime is undemocratic and not elected with people’s votes.

‘We would like to tell the government to face the politics through political means. Come to the path of national unity, shunning the political vengeance, repressive acts,’ Ripon said.