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JHENAIDAH: Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Rashed Khan has alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami has begun establishing back-channel contacts with India, which he described as an expansionist power, in an attempt to come to power.
He claimed that the Awami League used to appease India while in power and that Jamaat was now following the same path to gain power. He further alleged that top Jamaat leaders were holding secret meetings with Indian intelligence officials.
Rashed Khan made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after exchanging greetings with local residents following Jumma prayers at the old DC Court Jame Mosque in Jhenaidah on Friday.
Criticising Jamaat and the Awami League, Rashed Khan said, “As far as I have learned, Jamaat has already started liaising with India to come to power. The Awami League previously pursued a policy of appeasing India, and now Jamaat is following the same path. They are holding meetings with Indian intelligence officials to appease India. The people of Bangladesh have not taken this well. If Jamaat believes no such meetings have taken place, let them accept my challenge.”
Regarding the opposition’s divisional long march to Khulna, which started from Dhaka, the Prime Minister’s political assistant said, “They will travel from Dhaka through Gopalganj to Khulna. From there, they will pass through Jashore and Jhenaidah before ending the march in Kushtia.
“Jamaat leaders and activists have held a press briefing, saying they will not hold any roadside rally in Gopalganj. Jamaat claims that they fear no one except Allah, yet they will not hold any roadside or public rally in Gopalganj. They say they will avoid holding a rally there out of fear of the Awami League. This is unacceptable. If they have moral courage, I urge Jamaat-e-Islami to hold a roadside rally in Gopalganj and prove their moral conviction.”
Claiming that Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar had secretly met Indian intelligence officials, Rashed Khan said, “I have information about such a meeting. Government intelligence agencies and investigative journalists also have such information. However, many may be unable to disclose these matters for various reasons. Several investigative journalists have met me over this issue, and I have shared everything with them.”
Addressing Jamaat, he further said, “You spend the entire day speaking against India, but meet Indian intelligence officials at night. Is this really anti-hegemony politics? This can never be considered anti-hegemony politics.”
Commenting on the Thakurgaon by-election, Rashed Khan said Jamaat’s promise of a “ticket to paradise” was no longer working. He alleged that during the national election, Jamaat had misled voters by offering them the prospect of a ticket to paradise and had succeeded in doing so.
However, the Thakurgaon election had shown that people had become more aware of Jamaat’s “ticket to paradise” claims, he said, adding that voters in the area had shown the party a red card.
District BNP President MA Majid, General Secretary Zahiduzzaman Mona, District Chhatra Dal General Secretary Shahriar Russell, former convener of Islamic University Chhatra Dal Sahed Ahmed, and leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations were present.
