Jamaat wants Rizwana, Khalilur interrogated over allegations of 'election engineering'

The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has demanded that former interim government advisers Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Khalilur Rahman (now foreign minister) be brought under the law and interrogated over allegations of influencing the 13th national election process.

The demand was made today (5 March) at a press conference at the party's central office in the capital's Moghbazar, organised by Jamaat over the country's overall political situation. The briefing was held.

Speaking at the conference, the party's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher alleged that the two former advisers were involved in "election engineering" to prevent Jamaat from emerging as a major political force.

Referring to remarks by Rizwana Hasan in a recent media interaction, Taher said her comments effectively acknowledged that certain political forces were prevented from becoming a dominant power.

"From her own statement it appears that the election engineering that has been discussed was in fact carried out," he claimed.

Taher said it must be clarified how Jamaat was prevented from gaining majority and who else was involved.

He questioned whether the entire government or only a section of it had influenced the election by appointing officials such as deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, UNOs, officers-in-charge and presiding officers in line with a particular design.

"I urge the government to bring Rizwana Hasan under interrogation and reveal what situation she created and who were involved. The nation deserves to know the truth," he added.

Taher also raised allegations against Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, claiming he had violated the interim government's commitment that its advisers would not later join a partisan government.

He noted that Khalilur had taken oath as foreign minister despite previously serving as security adviser.

Describing Khalilur as the "architect of a London conspiracy," the Jamaat leader alleged that he had worked to benefit the current government and was rewarded with the foreign minister's post.

He also referred to remarks by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed who had earlier criticised Khalilur Rahman and called for his removal from the interim government, expressing shock that he was later appointed foreign minister.

Taher further claimed that details of alleged conspiracies to ensure the BNP's victory should be made public, adding that Jamaat had sought a fair election but the nation was deprived of it.

He reiterated the party's demand that Khalilur Rahman be interrogated to clarify the allegations.