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Tarique now soul searching

His recorded statement played at council

Staff Correspondent
Tarique Rahman yesterday said he has yet to decide about his direct participation in BNP's activities, as he is now soul searching and trying to monitor the country's present situation from abroad.
"My future decision will depend on my health condition and the overall situation in the country," said Tarique as the party's senior joint secretary general in a pre-recorded video speech that was played at the opening ceremony of the fifth national council of BNP Later in the evening he was elected the senior vice-chairman of the party by the council. He also said his mind remains in his homeland.
SEE PAGE 15 COL 4 FROM PAGE 1 immediate past caretaker regime. "A brutal torture was inflicted upon me ignoring civility, humanity, and the law," he said.
He however added, "Mistakes might have been made while I was carrying out my duties, but I never knowingly did any Injustice to anyone.”
Thousands of party leaders, workers and supporters heard the brief statement with remarkable silence, and burst out into applause chanting slogans as the speech of about 10 minutes came to an end.
In an anti-graft drive by die immediate past caretaker government, which also declared a state of emergency in the country, the joint forces arrested Tarique on March 7, 2007 from his family's Shaheed Moinul Road residence in Dhaka Cantonment.
Soon he was implicated in a slew of criminal cases. After 18 months in detention on graft and extortion charges, he was released on bail on September 3,2008 and admitted to a hospital.
On September 11 the same year, Tarique left the country for London along will) his wife and daughter. But before leaving the country, he issued a statement saying that he 'retired from active politics with effect from September 11'.
In his yesterday’s video speech. Tarique said he did not do anything that could go against the country's interest. "I don't know why 1 was punished without committing any crime. Don't know why a massive propaganda was carried out against me at home and abroad."
"They |the immediate past caretaker government) might have wanted to kill me, but I am still alive due to your love, the prayers of the country's people, and the honest deeds of my
parents," he told the councillors and observers.
"I was asked to leave the country after the state of emergency was declared, but I did not escape. And that is why I was wrongfully arrested on false charges, and was physically tortured," he said adding that he is still under treatment, and does not know how long it will take for him to fully recover.
He said his father, late president Ziaur Rahman, who was also the founder of BNP sacrificed his life for the country, and his mother is still working hard for the country and its people. "I also could not choose a secured life. Since my youth I traversed the country from one end to the other. Whenever whatever responsibility was given to me, I carried those out diligently." he added.
Tarique asked all councillors to convey his greetings to all grassroots level leaders and activists of the party, and wished all success for the national council.
He said the country is now passing through 'an extreme abnormal period'. "I could join the council physically with you all, if the country's situation was normal but that ability of mine has been snatched away from me," he alleged.