Zia's 'fugitive' son has abandoned Bangladeshi citizenship: Minister

Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia's "fugitive" eldest son Tarique Rahman has abandoned his Bangldeshi citizenship, Junior Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam today alleged, triggering a political uproar in the country.

Junior Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam said main opposition BNP's acting chairperson Rahman along with his wife and daughter handed over their passports to the British Home Office four years ago and the surrendered passports are now under Bangladesh authorities' disposal.

He shared purported copies of the UK Home Office letter and the BNP leader's passport with the media to back up his claim.

"As a politician I would say Tarique Rahman gave up his Bangladesh citizenship, Alam told a media briefing, after Rahman sent him a legal notice demanding proof of his claim.

Alam said Rahman handed over his passport to the British home office, which subsequently forwarded it to Bangladesh High Commission in London while the travel document was now kept there, he alleged.

He also shared a copy of the UK Home Office letter with the media to back up his claim while it read Please find enclosed a passport for your retention.

Tarique could have submitted his passport to Bangladesh High Commission in London for renewal or extension of validity. But, he submitted it to British Home Office . . . what does it mean? As a political person, I think it's a refusal of nationality, Alam said.

Rahman sent him the legal notice two days after Alam told a community reception in London that he abandoned his Bangladeshi citizenship.

The notice demanded "proof" of Alam's comments or his unconditional apology. Rahman also sent an identical notice to editors of two Bangladeshi newspapers demanding their unconditional apology as well for publishing the junior minister's remarks.

Asked if Rahman took British citizenship, Alam said make this question to Tarique Rahman.

Rahman, the elder son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, was arrested during the military-controlled caretaker government. He went to London after receiving bail in 2008 and has been there with his wife and daughter since.

Two years ago, the High Court sentenced him to seven years in prison over a money laundering case. He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on Feb 8.

Khaleda has been in prison since the verdict in the case was delivered. The BNP appointed Rahman as acting chairman since his mother's imprisonment and has been following his instructions from London.

BNP, meanwhile, in a press conference said it prepared for a legal action against Alam's baseless claim with the party's senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi calling it a "blatant lie".

"If the passport has been handed over to the High Commission then surely it is with them and we ask the government to show the passport.

The ruling Awami League, on the other hand, asked Rahman to prove his nationality by showing his passport.

"If you (Rahman) have the Bangladeshi passport, please show it," Awami League's acting general secretary Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan told a counter media briefing.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this week at a Bangladeshi community reception in London said "fugitive convict Rahman must face justice for the crimes he committed and her government is in talks with UK authorities for his extradition.

"He (Rahman) will have to face the court...definitely we will bring him back (to be exposed to justice) one day (and) we are in talks with the British government for his extradition," she said.

Bangladesh earlier asked London to return Rehman but the British authorities so far declined to make any public statement on the issue calling it a "personal matter of an individual".