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Tarique set to be freed today

Release delayed due to unsigned bail bond in bribery case

Staff Correspondent
Tarique Rahman, elder son of detained former premier Khaleda Zia. might walk to his freedom today nearly 18 months into his arrest on corruption and extortion charges, although there were widespread speculations that he would be freed yesterday.
In a desperate bid to free the senior joint secretary general of BNP, his lawyers shuttled between courts in vain yesterday in attempts to get signed within office hours a copy of the bail bond in a bribery case against him, which is the last remaining impediment to his release.
The bribery case was filed against Tarique and others for burying a case in connection with the murder of Bashundhara Group Director Shabbir in exchange for a bribe ofTk 21 crore. The High Court (HC) granted him bail in the case on August 28.
All other legal barriers to Tarique's release had earlier been removed, except the signing of the bail bond in the bribery case.
His lawyers said they rushed to the court of chief judicial magistrate with a copy of the bail bond several minutes before the end of office hours yesterday.
But the chief judicial magistrate had already delegated the power of dealing with the matter to the additional chief judicial magistrate.
"We failed to get the sign of the additional chief judicial magistrate despite our desperate attempts," Advocate Nasiruddin Ahmed, one of Tarique's counsels, told The Daily Star last night.
He said a copy of the bail bond signed by the judicial magistrate must reach the prison authorities for gettingTarique freed.
He, however, hoped that a signed copy will reach the jail authorities today paving the way forTarique's instant freedom.
Tarique will not go to his cantonment home after being released, said his relatives.
His family members said after being released he will stay in Bangabandu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital until he leaves for London for treatment They also said Tarique might be allowed to meet his mother before flying off to London where a number of his loyalists are ready to host him bearing all costs of his stay and treatment
Hundreds of activists and leaders of BNP and its front organisations gathered at BSMMU Hospital yesterday where Tarique has been undergoing treatment in a prison cell.
The crowd demonstrated there chanting slogans demanding immediate release of both Tarique and his mother Khaleda who has been detained in a makeshift prison in the parliament buildingcomplex.
Some followers of Tarique also carried flowers and sweets with them in anticipation of celebrating his release yesterday.
Tarique's wife Zubaida Rahman and other relatives, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and leaders Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Hannan Shah and some former BNP lawmakers also went to the hospital and waited there till evening expecting their political colleague's release. Some of them had iftar with Tarique in the hospital
The prison authorities also indicated that Tarique might be released today.
"There are 12 cases against Tarique. We have copies ofbail orders in 11 cases. But we have yet to get the bail order in Shabbir murder case and that's why we could not release him." said Deputy Inspector General of Prisons Maj Shamsul Haider Siddique last night
According to a diplomat of the British High Commission,Tarique holds alongtcrm British visa.
"Since there is no international legal charge of crime against him, we can't bar him from entering London," said the diplomat
Sources in Zia family saidTariquegot numerous offers from his admirers and BNP loyalists from across Europe and America.
"He will fly to London first and then may go to Germany," one of the family members toldThc Daily Star.
He, however, said Tarique has not applied fora German visayct
The government and the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday appealed against the HC bail orders in seven of the 13 cases against Tarique.
Bur the Supreme Court (SO on Monday upheld the HC orders granting bailtoTarique.
Thirteen graft and extortion cases were filed against him since his arrest on Marell 7 last year.
Meanwhile, in a late night development, Tarique's wife Zubaida Rahman filed a general diary (GD) with the Dhanmondi Police Station in connection with missing of their passports.
According to the GD, nine pass-ports-four each belonging to Tarique and his wife, and one to his daughter Zalma Rahman--have gone missing from his in-laws' Dhanmondi residence.
Dhanmondi police said the GD copy signed by Zubaida was submit -tea by one of her lawyers.