A Jashore court on Monday acquitted BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman in a sedition case filed around 11 years back.

Judge of Jashore District and Sessions Judge’s Court Sheikh Nazmul Alam passed the verdict.

According to the case statement, on 22 January 2014, SM Afzal Hossain, the then organising secretary of the district unit of Awami League, filed the case, alleging that Tarique Rahman made derogatory, hateful, and contemptuous remarks against Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which amounted to sedition.

The police submitted a charge sheet against Tarique on 21 April 2014.

Public Prosecutor and Jashore BNP President Syed Saberul Haque said that initially, the case proceeded to the charge framing stage, but an appeal was later filed for its withdrawal.

He explained that under the law, a sedition case can only be filed if the alleged victim held an official position in the state at the time of the offence. Since Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not in any official state position at that time, the case was deemed inadmissible.

Earlier, a petition seeking the dismissal of the case was rejected by the Magistrate Court. However, upon revision, the District and Sessions Judge’s Court acquitted Tarique Rahman, cancelled all arrest warrants against him, and dismissed the case.