The Supreme Court on Thursday lifted its previous ban on the publication in the media of statements made by the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Tarique Rahman.
A bench comprising Md Khasruzzaman and Md Khairul Alam issued the order after pro-Awami League lawyer Nashreen Siddiqua Lina requested that her petition filed in 2015 seeking a ban on publication of Tarique’s statements in all media outlets be dropped.
The court also overturned its ruling of January 7, 2015, in which it asked the State Secretaries of the Ministry of the Interior, Information and Broadcasting why the publication of any of Tarique’s statements in the media was not declared illegal.
The ruling states that Tarique “remains a fugitive from the law” after being convicted in absentia on several counts.
Pro-BNP lawyer Kayser Kamal defended Tarique, while Nashreen Siddiqua submitted her petition in person.
The Supreme Court did not allow Kayser Kamal to defend Tarique during the final hearing before the Supreme Court in August 2023, citing that he is “a fugitive convict” in at least five cases.
Tarique has lived with his family in London since he was forced into exile by the then military-backed transitional government in September 2008.
