Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Rashed Khan on Wednesday hit back sharply at the Jamaat-e-Islami over its dismal assessment of the government’s first six months in office, saying the opposition party is an “international champion of hypocrisy.”
“Before the election, they promised that they (MPs) would not accept various facilities. But now the Jamaat Amir says they have no objection if any MP personally wants to enjoy the facilities. It seems to me that Jamaat-e-Islami has become the champion of hypocrisy, not just in Bangladesh, but internationally,” said Rashed, while addressing a discussion in the city.
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Ziaur Rahman Samajkallan Parishad, a pro-BNP body, arranged the discussion over the July Uprising at the National Press Club.
Rashed said the performance of the opposition alongside the government should be evaluated. “It is also essential to evaluate the six-month performance of the opposition, just as that of the ruling party…. Both the ruling party and the opposition must play significant roles in governing the state,” he said.
He said Jamaat told the foreigners before the national election that it wouldn't implement Sharia law if it came to power, which was contrary to its party’s charter where it declared its commitment to establishing the laws of Allah, the Quran, and Sharia.
“It is a glaring instance of hypocrisy. Despite being an Islamic party, they didn’t mention in their election manifesto that they would implement Sharia law if they came to power,” he said.
About the existing gas crisis, the PM’s political assistant said the problems accumulated over the last 20 years won’t be resolved within six months. Immediately after the BNP government assumed office, the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to explore gas and to promote solar energy, he said.
“But the reality is that it is not possible to resolve every problem within six months. The problems accumulated over twenty years cannot be solved in six months,” he added.
BNP lawmakers Humam Quader Chowdhury, Aynul Haque and Arifa Sultana, and Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, among others, spoke at the discussion.