Live Correspondent: An Indian court has acquitted main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed of the charge of illegal entry to India.

Confirming the matter, Salahuddin, now in India, told New Age over phone that on Wednesday he got the copy of the verdict, which was pronounced on Tuesday by the Shillong Judge Court.

The court also ordered arrangements for his return to Bangladesh, he said. ‘The government of India has been asked to take necessary steps to comply the verdict,’ he added.

There are some legal issues relating to the process of his return, he said. ‘Hopefully, I will back home soon on completion of the legal procedure,’ he said.

Earlier on October 26, 2018, a lower court in India acquitted Salahuddin of the charge.

The Indian government had appealed against the verdict. Salahuddin went missing on the night of March 10, 2015.

At that time, his family alleged that he was picked up by law enforcement officials from Uttara in the capital. The law enforcement agencies, however, denied the allegation.

After about two months, Salahuddin was found in Shillong, the capital of the northeaster Indian state of Meghalaya on May, 11, 2015.

The Shillong police arrested the BNP leader on charge of entering India without any valid documents.

A case was filed against Salahuddin under the Foreigners Act. Later, the Shillong police pressed charges against him in the case. On August 13, 2018, the trial was ended after nearly three years and a half.

Dhaka, 01 March (campuslive24.com)//BIC