Bangladesh
Tarique Rahman Tarique Rahman is on political asylum in UK: Foreign Secretary
Dhaka, Sept 13: BNP leader Tarique Rahman is on political asylum in UK. Foreign Secretary Masood Bin Momen said that the legal process to bring back the Bangladeshi convicts who are staying in that country is ongoing.
He said this to reporters when asked about the position of Tarique Rahman after the fifth strategic dialogue at the Foreign Service Academy with Philip Burton, the Permanent Secretary of the United Kingdom's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Secretary said, "According to our knowledge, he (Tarique Rahman) is staying in the UK on political asylum."
Regarding bringing back Tarique Rahman, Masood Bin Momen said, "We have discussed the legal mechanisms we have with them (UK). Mutual legal assistance, deportation, extradition are being discussed among various organizations."
When asked about the status of mutual legal assistance and extradition agreement, he said, "It is under our legal consideration and they are also considering it. But it did not reach the stage of signing. Various processes are being completed."
Informing that in this strategic dialogue, climate change, migration, economic development, Indo-Pacific, trade and investment, cyber security, good governance, human rights, elections were discussed, the foreign secretary said, "We have explained our position to them on all issues."
Several decisions have been made in this meeting. In this regard, the Foreign Secretary said, "Today we have decided on multiple mechanisms. We will soon sign an SOP with the UK, so that how we can bring those who are out of visa, or who are staying illegally in that country."
Stating that the United Kingdom has agreed to a joint working group on immigration, he said, "Some of our students and workers are going there in recent times. We have discussed how to increase it further."
