Never met Tarique in person, says Mokbul

Md Mokbul Hossain on Monday denied meeting BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in person, a day after he was sent on early retirement as the information secretary in "public interest."

"I've never met Tarique Rahman in person and have no intention to meet him. I've never made any compromise with morality in my life and I'm not even prepared for this situation," he said while talking to reporters at the ministry.

No details have been available about his alleged connection with Tarique, who has been living in London with his family since September 2008. In his absence he was tried and convicted in deadly grenade attack on then-opposition leader Sheikh Hasina's rally in Dhaka on August 21, 2004 and in a money laundering case.

On Sunday Mokbul was shown the door in "public interest' nearly a year before he was due to retire from government service triggering speculations about the real reason. Asked about different allegations brought against him, Mokbul requested the reporters to publish if they get anything like this.

Replying to a question about his visit to London where he met some people, Mokbul said "We went there in the month of March as a team. Why have you raised this question now? Ashequn Nabi was in-charge of our press and if you (journalists) ask him it would be clear."

Ashequn Nabi Chowdhury is the minister (press) at Bangladesh High Commission in London.

Moqbul also said that "If it is proved that I was in contact with BNP, please put me on the dock ..... It is impossible for a person who holds Bangabandhu as his ideal, can make any connection with the BNP."

"I have no idea why I have been sent on early retirement but the government has the right to do it. There is no scope to anything against it. I am always ready to stand before the court."

Responding to a query about the allegation brought against him that he has a connection with another party, Mokbul said "As a journalist you can investigate it. I have no connection with any anti-government activities and if there is any, you (journalist) can publish it. I have no complaints about it."

Answering a question that he has developed a distance with the information minister, Mokbul said there will be many gossips and it will be better not to rely on these. "As far as I know we worked together and I respect him," he said.