The Bangladesh Freedom Party, also known as Freedom Party is a political party founded by Syed Faruque Rahman, Khandakar Abdur Rashid and Bazlul Huda who were the chief conspirators of the assasination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975.[1]
On 10 August 1989, activists and leaders of Freedom Party allegedly launched an attack at Sheikh Hasina's the then residence in Dhanmondi's Road 32.
Freedom Party members Kajol and Kobir with around 10 or 12 men attacked Sheikh Hasina's residence by hurling a bomb and firing gunshots, the case statement read.
They chanted the slogan “Faruque-Rashid Zindabad” as they left the place.
Following the incident, Zahurul Islam, a security guard of the residence, filed two cases, one for plotting to kill Hasina and other for hurling a bomb with Dhanmondi Police Station.
In 1997, eight years after the attack, Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) pressed charges against 19 people including Freedom Party leaders and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's murderers Lt Col (retd) Syed Faruque Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Khandakar Abdur Rashid and Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda in an attempted murder and another explosive case.
On 5 July 2009, charges were framed against 16 accused.
Four of the accused, Sohel, Golam Sarwar Mamun, Joy Miah and Syed Nazmul Maksud Murad are all currently in jail. Four others of the accused, Humayun Kabir, Mizanur Rahman, Khandakar Amirul Islam and Md Shahjahan had been freed on bail.
Two others, Zafar Ahmed and H Kabir are absconding while two others of the accused, Gazi Liakat Hossain and Rezaul Islam Khan died earlier.
Syed Faruque Rahman and Bazlul Huda have been executed in the Bangabandhu murder case.
On 11 February 1990, activists of the Freedom Party attacked a Bangladesh Awami League rally killing Harun-ur-Rashid and injuring others.[2] The party, according to 1997 UNHRC report, kept a low profile.[1]
According to the Bangladesh Police, from 2000 onward, Mehnaz Rashid, daughter of Khandaker Abdur Rashid, had been involved in reorganizing Freedom Party. She contested the parliamentary polls in 2001 and 2008 from Chandina of Comilla on Freedom Party ticket.[3]
In 2009, Mehnaz Rashid was arrested by police, along with Kamrul Haque Swapan, younger brother of Major Sharful Haq Dalim for suspected links to a bomb attack on Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.[4]
The party's current chairman is Syed Faruque Rahman's son Syed Tariq Rahman, who lives in Sydney in exile after seeking political asylum.[5]