Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday alleged that the warrant for the arrest of its senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman in the Zia Orphanage Trust case has been issued to divert people’s attention to a different direction from the ‘partisan’ search committee.

In a statement, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “The issuance of the warrant for the arrest of Tarique Rahman is a clear tactic to divert people’s attention to a different direction from the resentment created in public mind for forming a search committee with pro-ruling party men to snatch their voting rights.” 

He also said the arrest warrant was issued as part of the government’s continued attacks on Tarique to remove him from politics.

Earlier in the day, a special court here cancelled bail of BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman in the Zia Orphanage Trust case and issued warrant for his arrest.

The court also asked all the accused in the Zia Orphanage Trust case, including BNP chief Khaleda Zia, to appear before it on January 30 in their self-defence.

Tarique Rahman left for London on September 11, 2008 for treatment after obtaining bail from the higher court and since then his lawyer Sanaullah Mia has been representing him in his absence.

Fakhrul said the country’s people believe that the government is implicating the Zia family in ‘false’ cases to eliminate the nationalist politics.

“The support of the country’s crores of people is the main power of BNP. So, people will not allow anyone to implement any evil effort to destroy BNP and the Zia family,” he warned.

The BNP secretary general denounced the arrest warrant and demanded immediate withdrawal of the case filed against Tarique.