Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Assistant Rashed Khan has strongly criticised Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh’s political strategy, accusing the party of misleading the public and deceiving its alliance partners.
He also criticised the successive resignations of several key leaders from the National Citizen Party (NCP), saying the developments had exposed contradictions in Jamaat’s politics.
He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after offering Juma prayers at Pagla Kanai Sayadatiya Jame Mosque in Jhenaidah town on Friday.
Commenting on the recent resignations of several female leaders from the NCP, Rashed said Nahid Islam’s biggest failure was his inability to retain leaders like Samanta Shermeen in the party.
“Many of those who joined the NCP with certain aspirations are now leaving the party one after another,” he said.
He further said Nasiruddin Patwary had earlier accused Jamaat of not wanting reforms and engaging in hypocrisy in the name of reforms. Samanta Shermeen had raised similar allegations before resigning, he added.
“This shows how true these allegations are,” Rashed said.
Criticising Jamaat’s politics, he said the party was using Islam as a political tool to mislead people in Bangladesh.
“In meetings with foreigners, they claim that they have not talked about introducing Sharia law if they come to power, but their constitution clearly mentions it,” he said.
Questioning Jamaat’s understanding with its alliance partners, Rashed said Colonel Oli Ahmed had publicly stated at a rally that Jamaat’s ameer had assured him that if the 11-party alliance came to power, the country would be governed under existing laws and the constitution, not Shariah law.
“This makes it clear that Jamaat is deceiving the people of Bangladesh as well as its own alliance partners,” he said.
BNP leaders KM Wazed, former Pagla Kanai Union Parishad chairman Nazrul Islam and former convenor of Islami University Chhatra Dal Shahed Ahmed, among others, were present at the event.