DHAKA: The opposition BNP will try those involved in torturing its chairperson Khaleda Zia’s elder son and party senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman if and when they would come to power.

Party standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia came up with the comment Saturday while addressing a discussion in the city’s Engineers’ Institution auditorium marking Tarique’s release day.

Barrister Mia alleged that Prime minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina was the “optimum beneficiary of the 1/11” changeover.

He said those who termed Tarique ‘corrupt element and thief’ should keep it in mind that allegations brought against him were not proven in any of the cases. “All are ‘false’ cases.”

Tarique Rahman is being attacked at a moment when he moved towards building a modern state, said Barrister Rafiq. The party will bring the attackers to book, he added.

BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan, Senior Joint Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) Secretary-General Dr. AZM Zahid and Professor Aminul Islam, among others, spoke at the meeting with BNP vice-chairperson Selima Rahman in the chair.

Tarique was arrested during a crackdown on the political arena following the 1/11, 2007 changeover amid a political crisis over election issues. He was later released on parole for treatment abroad and still under treatment in London.

BDST: 1617 HRS SEP 04, 2010