Jamaat beguns liaising with India to attain power: PM's Political Assistant Rashed Khan
Taraque Mahamud Joy, Jhenaidah
Rashed Khan, a political assistant to the Prime Minister, has remarked that Jamaat-e-Islami has begun liaising with "hegemonic" India in an effort to attain power.
He stated that while the Awami League previously appeased India to remain in power, Jamaat is now attempting to follow the same path—seeking power by courting India. Consequently, top Jamaat leaders are holding secret meetings with officials from Indian intelligence agencies.
Rashed Khan made these comments on Friday (October 30) while speaking to journalists after performing Jumu'ah prayers and interacting with locals at the Old DC Court Jame Mosque in Jhenaidah.
Criticizing both Jamaat and the Awami League, Rashed Khan said, "Based on the information I have received, Jamaat has already begun liaising with India to gain power. Jamaat is now treading the same path of appeasing India that the Awami League once followed. They are holding meetings with Indian intelligence agencies as part of this appeasement strategy. The people of Bangladesh have not taken this well. If Jamaat claims that no such meetings took place, then let them accept my challenge."
Regarding the opposition party’s long march—which begins in Dhaka and heads toward the Khulna division—the Prime Minister’s political assistant noted:
"They plan to travel from Dhaka, pass through Gopalganj, and enter the Khulna division. From there, they will proceed through Jashore and Jhenaidah, concluding the march in Kushtia. Jamaat leaders have stated in a press briefing that they will not hold any street rallies in Gopalganj. Jamaat claims to fear no one but Allah, yet they have decided against holding any rallies or public meetings in Gopalganj. It is simply unacceptable that they would avoid holding a rally in Gopalganj out of fear of the Awami League. If they possess any moral integrity, I challenge Jamaat-e-Islami to hold a street rally in Gopalganj." Hold a street rally in Gopalganj—that will be the true test of your integrity.
Rashed Khan claimed that Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar held secret meetings with officials from Indian intelligence agencies. "I have information regarding this," he stated. "Government intelligence agencies and investigative journalists are also aware of such details, though many may be unable to disclose them for various reasons. Several investigative journalists have met with me to discuss this, and I have shared everything I know with them."
Addressing Jamaat-e-Islami, he added, "You spend your days making anti-India statements, yet at night, you meet with Indian intelligence officials. Is this what you call 'anti-hegemony' politics? This can never be considered genuine anti-hegemony politics."
Regarding the by-election in Thakurgaon, Rashed Khan remarked that Jamaat’s tactic of 'selling tickets to paradise' is no longer working. During the national election, Jamaat had successfully misled the public by dangling these 'tickets to paradise' before them.
Earlier, Rashed Khan performed Jumu'ah prayers at DC Court Jame Mosque in Jhenaidah. Following the prayers, he interacted with local worshippers and members of the public. Present on the occasion were District BNP President MA Majid, General Secretary Zahiduzzaman Mona, District Chhatra Dal General Secretary Shahriar Russel, and former Islamic University (IU) Chhatra Dal Convener Sahed Ahmed, along with other leaders and activists from the BNP and its affiliated organizations.
