Jamaat demands Khalilur be questioned, names Rizwana as state witness

Jamaat-e-Islami has demanded that current Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman be questioned over alleged election manipulation, citing former interim government adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan as a state witness to the claims.

The call was made by Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer and deputy opposition leader in the National Parliament, Dr Abdullah Mohammad Taher, during a press conference at the party’s central office.

Dr Taher said a free and fair election was critical for the nation, emphasizing that Bangladesh had not experienced a proper election in 56 years. 

“The people had strong expectations for a transparent election. Efforts were made to ensure that the elected representatives could legitimately form the government,” he said.

He alleged that the election process was undermined by manipulation and betrayal, preventing Jamaat from participating fully in the democratic process. 

Dr Taher stressed that Khalilur Rahman, who served as Defence and National Security Adviser during the interim government and is now the Foreign Minister, should be removed from the cabinet and questioned about his role in the alleged conspiracy.

He also called for questioning Rizwana Hasan, who has acknowledged herself as a key witness, to clarify the extent of the alleged election engineering.

Dr Taher said the investigation should uncover how these actions deprived the nation of a free and fair vote, asserting that both Khalilur and Rizwana hold crucial information about the alleged manipulation.

SH