HC lifts ban on publishing Tarique Rahman’s speeches in media
Lawyers stated that following today's order, there are no longer any obstacles to media coverage of Tarique Rahman's speech
The High Court has lifted the ban on publishing speeches and statements of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman across all media and online platforms.
A High Court bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order on Thursday (22 August).
Following the order, lawyers said there are no longer any obstacles to media coverage of Tarique's speech.
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Lawyer Kayser Kamal told reporters that the court dismissed its previous ruling that directed the government to take necessary steps to ban the publication and dissemination of Tarique's speech.
"Justice has been served," he said.
On 5 August, Tarique made his first media appearance in many years following the ouster of the Awami League government in a mass uprising.
He issued a statement on that day urging the countrymen to remain calm and maintain peace.
Earlier in 2015, the High Court banned broadcast, publication and dissemination of speeches and statements of Tarique.
Implicated in several corruption cases, former prime minister Khaleda Zia's elder son, Tarique, has been living in London since 2008 after being released on parole. He was later declared absconding by a Dhaka court in a money laundering case.
In a statement issued on 5 January 2015, Tarique declared that the BNP's movement would continue until the then-prime minister [Sheikh Hasina] resigned.
On the following day, Advocate Nasreen Siddiki Lina filed a writ with the High Court seeking a ban on publishing his speech.
