Jhenaidah, Oct 30, (V7N) – Prime Minister's Political Assistant Rashed Khan alleged Friday that Jamaat-e-Islami has initiated liaison with India in a bid to come to power.
"Earlier, Awami League used to appease India to remain in power. Now Jamaat is following the same path and trying to come to power by appeasing India," he said, alleging that top Jamaat leaders were holding secret meetings with officials of Indian intelligence agencies.
He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after exchanging greetings with local people following Jumma prayers at the Old DC Court Jame Mosque in Jhenaidah.
Criticising both Jamaat and Awami League, he said he had received information that Jamaat had already started establishing contacts with India to secure power. "Jamaat is following the same politics of appeasing India that Awami League once practised. They are holding meetings with Indian intelligence officials to serve this purpose. The people of Bangladesh have not taken this positively," he said.
Challenging Jamaat to deny the allegations, he said, "If Jamaat believes that no such meeting took place, let them accept my challenge."
Regarding the opposition's divisional long march towards Khulna, which began in Dhaka, the Prime Minister's Political Assistant said the procession would enter Khulna through Gopalganj and conclude in Kushtia after passing through Jashore and Jhenaidah.
He said Jamaat leaders had announced at a press briefing that they would not hold any roadside rally in Gopalganj. "Jamaat claims that it fears none but Almighty Allah. Yet, it has decided not to hold any roadside or public meeting in Gopalganj. If they are avoiding Gopalganj out of fear of Awami League, that is unacceptable," he said. He urged Jamaat to hold a roadside rally in Gopalganj to demonstrate its political courage and prove its moral position.
Claiming that Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar had held secret meetings with officials of Indian intelligence agencies, Rashed Khan said he had information about such meetings. "The government intelligence agencies also have such information, as do investigative journalists. However, many may not be able to disclose these matters for various reasons," he said.
Addressing Jamaat, he further said, "You speak against India throughout the day, but hold meetings with Indian intelligence officials at night. Can this be called politics against hegemony? It can never be described as anti-hegemonic politics."
On the Thakurgaon by-election, Rashed Khan said Jamaat's campaign using the promise of a "ticket to heaven" was no longer working. He alleged that Jamaat had misled voters during the national election by using religious promises and had succeeded in doing so. "However, the Thakurgaon election has shown that people have now become aware of Jamaat's so-called 'ticket to heaven.' The people of Thakurgaon have shown a red card to the party's misleading campaign," he said.
Earlier, Rashed Khan offered Jumma prayers at the Old DC Court Jame Mosque in Jhenaidah and exchanged greetings with local Muslim worshippers and members of the public.
District BNP President MA Majid, General Secretary Zahiduzzaman Mona, former convener of Islami University Chhatra Dal Sahed Ahmed, and leaders and activists of BNP and its associate organisations were present.
Jamaat-e-Islami has not yet responded to the allegations.
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