Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman still bears the scars of torture he suffered during the 1/11 regime, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon on Wednesday. 'He was arrested without a warrant and subjected to inhuman torture. He still carries the marks of that torture,' Rumon said while speaking at a discussion organised by the Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum at the Jatiya Press Club, marking Tarique Rahman's 18th jail release anniversary.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Rumon emphasized that Tarique Rahman, also the BNP Chairman, does not wish to dwell on those painful memories or seek revenge for past events. Rumon quoted Tarique Rahman as saying he does not want to remember those days. Rumon further expressed that spending the next five years seeking revenge would prevent the government from fulfilling the aspirations of the people who elected Tarique Rahman as prime minister.
Rumon called on BNP leaders and activists to remain alert to conspiracies aimed at tarnishing Tarique Rahman's image and to work collectively to make his initiatives successful. He noted that past conspiracies were launched both domestically and internationally to defame Tarique Rahman when the BNP was in power.
The additional press secretary also recalled the difficulties faced by BNP activists in organizing Tarique Rahman's prison release anniversary programs during the previous regime, highlighting that the current situation is different. He mentioned that BNP leaders and activists faced intimidation, arrests, and various forms of repression while organizing programs at that time but did not remain silent.
Tarique Rahman was arrested by the joint forces of the 1/11 government on March 7, 2007, and was released on bail on September 3, 2008, following a High Court order. The discussion featured BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as the main speaker.
Rumon stressed that the people of Bangladesh have repeatedly demonstrated that they are the source of all political power, citing examples like the Liberation War of 1971 and the removal of the autocratic Ershad regime and the 1/11 government. He urged leaders and activists of BNP, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal to work together to ensure the success of Tarique's initiatives.
The event was attended by State Minister for Land and Adviser to the Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum Barrister Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, Dhaka district Jubo Dal convener Nazmul Hasan, Amra BNP Poribar member secretary Moksedul Momin Mithun, and student leaders from northern Bangladesh, with Rumon presiding over the program.