DHAKA: The financiers of BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman are identified. Now, they will be netted soon. The process of netting has already started. Steps are underway against them, who are financing the BNP leader.
From news media, it is learnt that at least fifty expatriate Bangladeshis are financing Tarique. Some of them live in Malaysia, some in UK, some in Saudi Arabia and some in Abu Dhabi. Besides, some top-level businessmen and industrialists, including some of Chittagong, are giving money to him.
These people are bearing expenditures of Tarique, including the rents of his two houses, so-called treatment cost, family expenditure and expenses of his wife as well as their daughter’s education, which requires six thousand pounds per month. The supplied money is also spent for subversive activities in the country.
In a news item published in Bangla daily ‘Kaler Kantho’ on January 13, it is learnt that the law enforcing intelligence agencies have made the profiles of people living abroad.
The intelligence departments are closely monitoring the relatives of those expatriate financiers. The sources also confirmed that some businessmen of Dhaka and Chittagong are also financing Tarique.
On the same day, another Bangla daily ‘Bangladesh Protidin’ carried similar news story that said, according to the instructions of the government, three agencies are conducting vigorous investigations about the financiers of Tarique Rahman.
According to the report, the names of some big-shots have come out.
Some top two dozens of businesspeople including ex-ministers, and expatriate rich people are involved in this anti-state activity. In the three separate intelligence reports, recommendations have been made to frame charges of anti-state activities and taking necessary legal actions. Now, the concerned authorities are verifying the list.
The concerned law enforcers have reported that as soon as Tarique had gone to England, the expatriate Bangladeshis are helping him all out, ‘Kaler Kantho’ mentioned.
The intelligence report further said that those expatriates often come to Bangladesh and hold secret meetings with Khaleda Zia for necessary instructions for Tarique. Later, they hold meetings with Tarique. Among the expatriates, some hold foreign passports.
According ‘Kaler Kantho’, on condition of anonymity two high ranking intelligence officials said that the financiers are followers of BNP.
When BNP was in power in 2001, they earned huge amount of money and then went abroad. Their bio-data is nearing completion. Those people hail from Comilla, Bogra, Sylhet, Habiganj and Tangail districts.
Quoting those two intelligence officers, ‘Kaler Kantho’ further said that Malaysia expatriate Mohammad Bachchu Mia, Dubai expatriate Julhas of Comilla, Malaysia expatriate Mostafizur Rahman of Bogra and Saudi Arabia expatriate Rustom Ali of Tangail and other fifty expatriates are helping Tarique. Some local businessmen, who are also helping him, have come under the scanning of the government agencies.
According to ‘Kaler Kantho’, once the BNP’s international affairs secretary Kamaruddin Ahmed was Tarique’s chief patron. After his death many expatriates in London are helping Tarique. A part of Tarique’s expenses are also sent from different parts of the country.
In the ‘Kaler Kantho’ report, it is told that after the death of Kamaruddin, the single patronization has ended up. Then, the other pro-BNP expatriates started financing Tarique.
Currently, UK BNP’s president Shaesta Chowdhury, general secretary Kaisur Rahman and BNP’s international affairs secretary Mohidur Rahman are very close to Tarique.
All three hail from Sylhet.
Besides, Barrister MA Salam, Mohammad Sayem, Tapon and Jewel Mallik are also close to Tarique. Some Bangladesh origin teachers and researchers of Cambridge and Oxford universities are the advisers of Tarique. They are looked after by BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury’s daughter there.
Tarique does not live in the house which was allocated to him by British government after getting political asylum rather he lives in a luxurious rented house, the source said.
In the report published in ‘Bangladesh Protidin’, it is said that according to primary reports about some subversive and sabotages within country, some names were revealed.
Accordingly, the government issued warnings to them. It earlier issued note of warnings to an ex-minister and two top businessmen of Dhaka and Chittagong for financing the destructive activities.
An ex-president of FBCCI was also given warning. However, some pro-BNP businessmen who frequently go abroad tried to prove their inactiveness in the destructive activities. But, the intelligence people have collected their involvement after making some grass-root and mid-level leaders as ‘source’.
As gathered by intelligence people, ‘Bangladesh Protidin’ further reported that not only the businessmen of the country but also the expatriate businessmen send money to the close people of Tarique from where the money is sent back to Bangladesh for BNP programs.
One police officer told ‘Bangladesh Protidin’ that many, arrested for bomb attacks and violence, have revealed the names of the financiers. It is interesting to know the names of businessmen who are doing these sabotages.
That official told the media for the sake of investigation, now it is not wise to disclose those names. However, there are names of ex-minister, leading businessmen and even some of people, who are much aloof from politics, who have been identified as the patrons. From the government high-ups it has been instructed to show ‘zero tolerance’.
State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told ‘Kaler Kantho’ that many expatriates are giving financial assistance to Tarique Rahman but none of them will be given impunity.
BDST: 1850 HRS, JAN 15, 2015
