BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman should return home to clear the smokescreen created over his Bangladeshi citizenship.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya made the remarks on Friday at a programme in Matlab Uttar upazila of Chandpur.
The minister also asked Tarique to come back home if he has the guts and prove him honest and patriotic facing corruption cases, reports UNB.
"People won't accept Tarique's abortive bid to come to power remaining absconding abroad due to corruption and wrongdoings in the country," he said.
The minister also said it is also mysterious that Tarique did not take back his passport even in four years after submitting it in 2014.
"If Tarique has patriotism, he should prove his competency to take part in the next election after returning home," he said.
He claimed that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has become unfit to contest the national election as she is suffering from various diseases.
Mentioning that most of the BNP leaders are on the run for corruption and misdeeds, Maya said there might be a conspiracy to foil the next election.
Making a comparison between Tarique and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the minister said Joy has transformed the new generation into global citizens through Digital Bangladesh.
"But Tarique is conspiring against the country sitting abroad after establishing a reign of graft and terror back in the country," the minister alleged.