Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Rashed Khan on Tuesday alleged that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar held a secret meeting with a senior Indian intelligence official and released photo, video claiming to support his allegation.
Rashed claimed that on October 16, after Maghrib prayers, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, party leader ATM Masum and one other person met a senior Indian intelligence official at a house in the capital’s Baridhara area.
In another post on Tuesday night, Rashed claimed that the Jamaat delegation, travelled in the vehicle to Hotel Six Seasons to meet the Indian intelligence official before switching to another vehicle to leave the place.
“I also have details of that vehicle,” he said.
Referring to a statement issued by Jamaat in response to the allegation, Rashed said the party had issued a “light” rejoinder, prompting him to share a picture of the vehicle in response.
“They (Jamaat) can come to me and collect the vehicle’s registration number and the house number as well, if they want,” he wrote.
Jamaat’s statement said the party maintains diplomatic relations with foreign countries while upholding the dignity of the state.
Questioning the statement, Rashed asked whether Jamaat was trying to portray the intelligence official as a diplomat to evade the allegation.
He also questioned why Jamaat’s rejoinder was so weak, saying that if the party believed there was a conspiracy to tarnish its image and that of Mia Golam Parwar, it should file a defamation case against him.
Earlier, Rashed shared the video on his Facebook account on Tuesday evening. In the accompanying post, he claimed that Mia Golam Parwar and other members of the Jamaat delegation were seen leaving in the vehicle after meeting the Indian intelligence official.
“After the meeting with the Indian intelligence official, Mia Golam Parwar and the Jamaat delegation came out in this vehicle. I am saying again that Mia Golam Parwar can file a defamation case against me if he wants,” Rashed wrote.
Rashed had made the same allegation in a social media post on Monday (Oct 26).
Rashed questioned why Jamaat leaders, who publicly speak against India, would hold a secret meeting with an Indian intelligence official. He said a meeting with an Indian diplomat and one with a senior intelligence official were not the same thing.
Addressing Jamaat leaders, Rashed said he hoped Mia Golam Parwar would clarify the alleged meeting if he believed in ethical politics. Otherwise, he said, the incident could create the impression that Jamaat was involved in a conspiracy against the state.
Rashed also alleged that Jamaat is planning to launch a movement in collaboration with the Awami League.