BNP’s acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has sent a legal notice to State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam.
The BNP leader sought proof from the state minister about his recent claim that Tarique Rahman gave up the citizenship of Bangladesh by submitting passport.
The legal notice was sent by lawyer Barrister Kaisar Kamal on Monday afternoon through registered mail.
According to the notice, Tarique asked the state minister to prove and to withdraw the statement within the next 10 days.
He also threatened civil and criminal lawsuits if the claim was not withdrawn.
According to UNB, lawyer Kaiser said the state minister was asked in the notice to prove his remark on Tarique or offer an unconditional apology by 10 days.
Otherwise, he said, the BNP leader will file both criminal and civil cases against Shahriar Alam.
In the notice, Kaiser said, Tarique described the state minister’s remark about the submission of his passport to the Bangladesh High Commission, London giving up nationality as untruth, fabricated and politically motivated one.
The BNP leader also said Shahriar made the remark only to dent his social and political image.
The BNP acting chairman also served the editors of Bangla dailies Kaler Kantho and Bangladesh Pratidin with separate legal notices seeking withdrawal of the news reports they published based on Shahriar Alam’s comments.
He also asked the two editors to tender an unconditional apology for publishing the report. Otherwise, legal action will also be taken against the two editors, said Kaiser.
Addressing a reception hosted by the UK Awami League in honour of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in London, Shahriar said Tarique, living in London, gave up his nationality by handing over his Bangladesh passport to the UK Home Office almost four years ago.
The UK Home Office sent his passport to the Bangladesh High Commission, he added.
Earlier in the day, BNP also protested the state minister’s comment and challenged the Bangladesh High Commission to show Tarique Rahman’s Bangladeshi passport if he submitted it.