Nahid served legal notice over remarks on PM, asked to apologize within 10 days

A legal notice has been sent to National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Chief Opposition Whip Nahid Islam, demanding that he withdraw his remarks about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Supreme Court lawyer Md Habibur Rahman sent the notice by registered post on Thursday over comments Nahid made in interviews broadcast on Channel 1 and Channel i on October 30.

The notice asks Nahid to withdraw his remarks and apologize publicly to the nation within 10 days of receiving it. It warns that failure to do so will lead to further legal action against him.

In the interviews, Nahid was quoted as saying, “Tarique Rahman has returned only to engage in extortion and looting. He has no plan to run the country.”

In the notice, Habibur said he felt embarrassed, hurt and angered after coming across the remarks.

It further stated that making sweeping allegations against a respected individual without specific evidence amounted to character assassination, reflecting political immaturity and a lack of wisdom, and constituted a serious offence.

The notice also referred to Tarique's parents, late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, describing them as corruption-free and uncompromising leaders. It said the nation did not expect such baseless and imaginary remarks about their son.