Taskin Ahmed Kayum: Updated formatting and improved readability

2026-03-23T17:03:51Z

Updated formatting and improved readability

114.130.72.18 at 19:48, 9 January 2022

2022-01-09T19:48:31Z

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{{Short description|Bangladeshi politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Tarique Rahman
| native_name = তারেক রহমান
| image = TariqueZia.jpg
| caption = Rahman addressing to party's grass root
| office = [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party|Acting Chairman of the BNP]]
| term_start = 9 February 2018
| predecessor = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|11|20|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Dhaka]], [[ Bangladesh ]]
| residence = [[London]], United Kingdom
| party = [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]
| nationality = [[Bangladeshi]]
| alma_mater = [[Dhaka Residential Model College]],
[[Adamjee Cantonment College]]
| spouse = Dr. Zubaida Rahman
| father = [[Ziaur Rahman]]
| mother = [[Khaleda Zia]]
| children = Zaima Rahman (daughter)
| relatives = {{Plainlist |
* [[Arafat Rahman]] {{small|(brother)}}
* [[Taiyaba Majumder]] {{small|(maternal grandmother)}}
* [[Sayeed Iskander]] {{small|(maternal uncle)}}
* [[Khurshid Jahan]] {{small|(maternal aunt)}}
* [[Shahrin Islam Tuhin]] {{small|(cousin)}}
* [[Saiful Islam Duke]] {{small|(cousin)}}
* [[Mahbub Ali Khan]] {{small|(father-in-law)}}
}}
}}

'''Tarique Rahman''' (also known as '''Tarique Zia'''; born 20 November 1967)<ref name=official>{{cite web |url=http://www.tariquerahman.net/ |title=The Official Site of Tarique Rahman |website=Tarique Rahman |access-date=2015-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103152259/http://tariquerahman.net/ |archive-date=2014-01-03 |url-status=dead}}</ref> is a Bangladeshi politician who is the current acting chairman of [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] (BNP) since February 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/tarique-rahman-acting-chairman-says-bnp-leader-nazrul-islam-khan-1531762|title=Tarique Rahman acting chairman: BNP leader|date=2018-02-08|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref> He has been residing in London with his family since he left Bangladesh in September 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-192908|title=Tarique not returning|date=2011-07-05|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref>

==Early life and family==
Rahman was born on 20 November 1967 in [[Dhaka]], [[Bangladesh]]. He belongs to a notable [[Bengali Muslim]] political family and his ancestral home is in the village of Bagbari in [[Gabtali Upazila|Gabtali]], [[Bogra District]]. His father, [[Ziaur Rahman]], was the 7th [[President of Bangladesh]], and his mother, [[Begum Khaleda Zia]], was the 10th [[Prime Minister of Bangladesh|Prime Minister]] and first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh. His paternal grandmother, Jahanara Khatun, was the wife of Mansur Rahman, a [[chemist]] who specialised in paper and ink chemistry and worked for a government department at the [[Writers' Building]] of [[Calcutta]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Md.Mahbur Rahman |date=5 August 2006 |title=From Bogra: A Successful Seat of knowledge |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/starinsight/2006/08/01/guru.htm |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref>

== Education ==
He studied at [[BAF Shaheen College Dhaka]] and completed his SSC from [[Dhaka Residential Model College]]. He then earned his HSC from [[Adamjee Cantonment College]]. .<ref name="personal">{{cite web |url=http://www.tariquerahman.net/index.php/2012-04-10-18-56-53/personal-life |title=Personal life |website=Tarique Rahman |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116103937/http://www.tariquerahman.net/index.php/2012-04-10-18-56-53/personal-life |archive-date=2016-01-16 |access-date=2015-11-28}}</ref>

==Political career==
Rahman started his political career as a primary member of the BNP [[Gabtali Upazila]], [[Bogura District]] in 1988.<ref name=joy>{{Cite news |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/article/55362/জয়কে-নিয়ে-অন্ধকারে-আ.লীগ-নেতারা|script-title=bn:জয়কে নিয়ে অন্ধকারে আ.লীগ নেতারা|work=Prothom Alo|language=bn|access-date=2020-01-25|date=2013-10-13}}</ref>

Rahman actively assembled support for the party during the national elections of 1991, when the transition was taking place from the autocratic ruling to the democratic government.

=== Joining politics ===
Rahman was a member of the BNP's National Campaign Strategy Committee, and was also responsible for coordinating the election campaigns in five constituencies from which his mother Khaleda Zia was contesting.<ref name="PoliticalThought">"The Political Thought of Tarique Rahman"</ref>

=== Major contribution in politics ===
During that period, he proactively organized the BNP units of Bogura and changed the inherent cultures to make politics more production and development oriented.<ref name="PoliticalThought" />

After the BNP's success in the national elections of 1991 and the formation of the new government, Rahman was offered a senior role in the party as recognition of his contributions. However, he was reluctant to take up a higher position in order to have enough time to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. For many years, he remained active in developing the Bogura units of the BNP. During the national elections of 1996, the party grassroots and the senior leadership requested Rahman to contest a constituency from Bogura. But he declined the offer with a view to furthering his work at the grassroots levels and coordinating the election campaigns for his mother.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.itnsource.com/en/shotlist/RTV/1991/03/18/RTV180391005/?s=zia%20and%20bangladesh%20and%20parliament |title=Bangladesh, Begum Khaleda Zia Head Of Bangladesh National Party, Appointed First Woman Prime Minister |work=[[ITN Source]] |date=1991-03-18 |access-date=2013-12-26}}</ref>

During the ruling of the [[Awami League]] government in 1996–2001, Rahman mobilized movements against the actions of the government. He actively campaigned to address issues of economic deprivation and started championing a countrywide consultation program aimed at publicizing the plight of the people living in rural areas.

This large-scale program, the first in the history of Bangladesh of this nature, drove mass mobilization against the government, which in turn, played an instrumental role in fostering the return of the BNP to power. He established the [[secret ballot]] system in Bogura to elect leaders through open council.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news |url=http://www.prothom-alo.com/opinion/article/35956 |script-title=bn:হাসিনাপুত্রের অতিথি-রাজনীতি! |language=bn |newspaper=Prothom Alo |date=2013-08-07 |type=Opinion |access-date=2013-12-21}}</ref>

In the national elections held in 2001, the party won a landslide victory with a two-thirds majority.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ecs.gov.bd/Bangla/ShareVote.php?&electionid=8&electionName=Parliament%20Election%202001 |title=Share of Votes by Party |website=Bangladesh Election Commission |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224165000/http://www.ecs.gov.bd/Bangla/ShareVote.php?&electionid=8&electionName=Parliament%20Election%202001 |archive-date=2013-12-24 |access-date=2013-12-22}}</ref>

=== Forced exile ===
Tarique Rahman, is the prime convict to be the mastermind of [[21 August 2004 Dhaka attack|21 August 2004 terrorist grenade attack]] on a public rally organized by the then-opposition party [[Awami League]]. The attack using military grade Arges grenade targeted the entire top leadership of Awami League including current prime minister [[Sheikh Hasina]] and killed 24 Awami league leaders and workers including Ivy Rahman, President of Women Awami League and wife of late President Zillur Rahman. The attack also injured hundreds of victims and many became permanently crippled. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Bangladesh Court.<ref>{{cite news |title=It was Hawa Bhavan Plot |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-111469 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=2009-10-26 |access-date=2016-07-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/19-sentenced-to-death-19-to-life-imprisonment-in-in-2004-grenade-attack-in-bangladesh/articleshow/66146547.cms |title=19 sentenced to death, 19 to life imprisonment in 2004 grenade attack in Bangladesh |date=2018-10-10 |work=The Economic Times |access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref>

==Exile and asylum==
Following the release of Rahman's mother Khaleda Zia on 11 September 2008, he flew to [[London]], United Kingdom for medical treatment at Wellington hospital, an independent private hospital in [[St. John's Wood]]. The 1/11 interim government backed by the army confirmed that Rahman gave written bond of not to indulge in any future politics and was allowed to go abroad.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Britain to consider BNP chief's visa|url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/117697/britain-to-consider-bnp-chiefs-visa|access-date=2020-11-08|work=New Age|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Anti Corruption Commission Bangladesh|Anti corruption Commission]] filed 12 cases against Rahman and his friend and business partner, [[Giasuddin Al Mamun]], which BNP claims is politically motivated and cases are being filed as part of the conspiracy of the immediate past [[caretaker government]] to prevent Rahman from participating in Bangladesh politics. On 16 October 2009 [[Supreme Court of Bangladesh|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 Khaleda Zia and Rahman should not be quashed on a petition filed by Zia.<ref>{{cite news |title=HC asks why Zia Trust case will not be cancelled |url=http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=144957&cid=3 |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=2009-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220192100/http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=144957&cid=3 |archive-date=2012-02-20}}</ref> On 9 November 2017, the Bangladesh Supreme Court dismissed Khaleda and Rahman's petition seeking stay on trial proceedings on the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The lower court now has no legal bar to continue the corruption case against them.<ref>{{cite news |title=Graft case: SC clears way for trial against Khaleda |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/politics/graft-case-sc-clears-way-trial-against-khaleda-1488688 |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=2017-11-09 |access-date=2017-11-09}}</ref>

Khaleda Zia said her son would take part in active politics upon his return from abroad after completing treatment. She addressed a few public meetings on her way to Bogura 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..."<ref name=london>{{cite news |title=Tarique coming back to politics |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=114927 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=2009-11-21}}</ref>

On 8 December 2009 in [[The 5th National Council of Bangladesh Nationalist Party]], Rahman was declared as the senior vice chairman of BNP.<ref name="bdnews24.com">{{cite news |title=Tarique made senior vice chair |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2009/12/08/tarique-made-senior-vice-chair |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=2009-12-08 |access-date=2013-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Liton |first1=Shakhawat |last2=Suman |first2=Rakib Hasnet |date=2009-12-09 |title=Tarique made powerful senior vice-chairman |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=116937 |newspaper=The Daily Star}}</ref>

On 25 July 2013, Rahman was invited to an iftar party in London arranged by the expatriate supporters of the party.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tarique shares his ideas in London |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2013/07/25/tarique-shares-his-ideas-in-london |newspaper=bdnews24.com |access-date=2013-12-21}}</ref> In September 2013, some representatives from the Government of United States met Rahman and discussed some bilateral issues.<ref>{{cite news |author=Rashidul Hasan |date=2008-11-03 |title=BNP to fight militancy | Tarique assures US embassy official |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/bnp-to-fight-militancy/ |newspaper=The Daily Star |access-date=2013-12-21}}</ref>

On 4 January 2014, in a video message posted on [[YouTube]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esaq8jq2NOo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Esaq8jq2NOo |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Tarique Rahman's London Speech | 3rd January 2014 |via=YouTube|access-date=2014-01-04}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Rahman called for a [[Election boycott|boycott]] of the next day's [[2014 Bangladeshi general election|general election]] in Bangladesh.<ref name="bdnews1">{{cite news |title=Tarique calls for poll boycott |url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2014/01/04/tarique-calls-for-poll-boycott |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=2013-09-14 |access-date=2014-01-04}}</ref>

In November 2018, Rahman conducted the interview process through [[Skype]] for the nomination seekers of BNP party at the [[2018 Bangladeshi general election]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/js-polls-2018/bnp-nomination-interview-process-tarique-rahman-presence-via-skype-blocked-1663135|title=Tarique joins nomination seekers' interview thru' Skype|date=2018-11-20|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/js-polls-2018/news/tarique-rahman-taking-bnp-nomination-seekers-interview-illegal-says-obaidul-quader-bangladesh-politics-1662928|title=Tarique's taking BNP nomination seekers' interview illegal: Quader|date=2018-11-19|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

{{anchor|Corruption and other charges}} 

==Cases and convictions==

===Money laundering case===
On 7 June 2007, a money laundering case was submitted against Rahman and his friend and business partner [[Giasuddin Al Mamun]] by the [[Bangladesh Anti Corruption Commission]] at a court in Dhaka. In a verdict given on 18 November 2013 by the court, Rahman was acquitted in the case involving BDT 20.41 crore.<ref>{{cite news |title=Money Laundering Case, Tarique acquitted |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/tarique-acquitted |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=2013-11-18 |access-date=2013-11-28}}</ref> The Bangladesh Anti Corruption Commission member Mohammad Shahabuddin rejected the verdict, saying: "''Tarique and Mamun had equal footing in the crime. So, legally there was no scope to differentiate.''"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/tarique-acquitted/ |title=Money Laundering Case | Mamun jailed for 7 years; surprised BNP finds 'a brave judge in subservient judiciary' |work=The Daily Star |access-date=2013-12-26}}</ref>

BNP officials and leaders claimed that this judgement is a proof of his innocence and he had no involvement with corruption, and that all the cases against Rahman were "politically motivated".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/tarique-acquitted |title=Verdict proves Tarique innocent |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=2013-11-18 |access-date=2013-11-28}}</ref>

On 21 July 2016, Rahman was found guilty by the Bangladesh High Court overturning a lower court verdict that acquitted him earlier. He was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment and fined Tk 20 crore by the Court. One interesting thing to note in this case here is right after delivering the controversial not-guilty verdict, the lower court judge fled the country. Rahman's money laundering case was the first case in the country's history where an FBI agent testified and produced evidence against a defendant in Bangladeshi court.<ref name=launder>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/tarique-convicted-jailed-7-years-1257541|title=Tarique convicted, jailed for 7 years|date=2016-07-22|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref> However, FBI has never confirmed this claim by the news paper Daily Star of Bangladesh.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

On 3 November 2008, a leaked [[US Embassy]] cable said that the embassy in Dhaka believed Rahman was "''guilty of egregious political corruption that has had a serious adverse effect on US national interests'".<ref>{{cite news |author=Shakhawat Liton and Shamim Ashraf |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=201716 |title=Tarique symbol of violent politics |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=2011-09-09 |access-date=2013-12-21}}</ref>

===2004 Dhaka grenade attack case===

On 10 October 2018, Rahman was sentenced to life in prison for the case of [[2004 Dhaka grenade attack]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/august-21-carnage/news/babar-17-others-get-death-tarique-awarded-life-1645090 |title=Babar, 17 others get death; Tarique awarded life |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=2018-10-10 |access-date=2018-10-10}}</ref> He was accused to be the mastermind of the attack by [[Awami League]] General Secretary [[Obaidul Quader]]. However, the accusation was denied by BNP Secretary General [[Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/tarique-rahman-mastermind-august-21-grenade-attack-2004-1644787 |title=Tarique mastermind of August 21 grenade attack: Quader |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=2018-10-09 |access-date=2018-10-10}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Rahman currently lives in suburban [[London]].<ref name="bdnews1"/> He is married to Zubaida Rahman, a physician and the youngest daughter of [[Rear Admiral]] [[Mahbub Ali Khan]], former [[Chief of the Naval Staff (Bangladesh)|Chief of Naval Staff]] of [[Bangladesh Navy]]<ref>{{cite news |author=Rashidul Hasan |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/is-zubaida-joining-politics |title=Is Zubaida joining politics? |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=2013-08-20 |access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref> and the first cousin of [[Irene Khan]], a former Secretary General of [[Amnesty International]].<ref name=personal/> Their only daughter [[Zaima Rahman]] is a barrister.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailynayadiganta.com/politics/461556/ব্যারিস্টার-হলেন-তারেক-কন্যা-জাইমা |script-title=bn:ব্যারিস্টার হলেন তারেক কন্যা জাইমা |work=Daily Naya Diganta |date=2019-12-04 |language=bn |access-date=2020-02-23}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rahman, Tarique}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Dhaka Residential Model College alumni]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians]]
[[Category:Children of national leaders]]
[[Category:Ziaur Rahman]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi people of Middle Eastern descent]]
[[Category:People from Bogra District]]

Tarique Rahman - Revision history

Taskin Ahmed Kayum: Updated formatting and improved readability

114.130.72.18 at 19:48, 9 January 2022