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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s political aide Rashed Khan has accused Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman of being the first to “betray” the mass uprising.
He made the allegation on Saturday morning while speaking to journalists after visiting the historic ‘Miar Dalan’ in the Muraridah area of his native village in Jhenaidah.
Rashed Khan said he had previously regarded Dr Shafiqur Rahman as a leader who had suffered political persecution, but claimed that the Jamaat chief’s “true face” became clear after the mass uprising.
“I used to know Dr Shafiqur Rahman as a mazlum leader. But after the mass uprising, it became clear that he was wearing a mask,” Rashed said.
He alleged that Jamaat’s first action after the uprising was to grant a general amnesty to the banned Awami League, describing the move as the first betrayal of the uprising.
Rashed also accused Jamaat of using unethical means to gain political power.
“There is no injustice, crime, falsehood or hypocrisy that they have not resorted to in their bid to come to power,” he alleged.
Referring to the election campaign, he claimed that Jamaat had sought to attract voters by promising them “tickets to heaven”.
Rashed said people had now realised that the country’s positive changes had come under the leadership of former president Ziaur Rahman and subsequently former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
“Likewise, the change in Bangladesh in the future will come under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman,” he said.
Commenting on the role of National Citizens Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam, Rashed said Nahid had been on the “right path” until the mass uprising.
“But the moment he fell into the trap of Jamaat-e-Islami, he went astray,” he alleged.
Rashed made the remarks in the presence of local political leaders, elected representatives and residents of the area.
The allegations could not immediately be independently verified, while no response from Jamaat-e-Islami or Nahid Islam was available regarding Rashed’s remarks.