Jamaat shelters 'covert extortionists', slams Rizvi

Prime minister's political adviser and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday accused Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami of providing shelter to 'covert extortionists' and attempting to disguise extortion through the use of religious terminology.

Speaking at a discussion meeting on Sunday noon organised by Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS) at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 45th death anniversary of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman, Rizvi said, ''They (Jamaat-e-Islami) are making big statements about extortion. They should first look at themselves.''

''You use an Arabic word for extortion. Instead of calling it extortion, you call it 'Hadia-baji' or 'Iyanat-baji,' he remarked.

Referring to media reports, he alleged that two Jamaat leaders, identified as Jahangir and Rabiul, were caught while extracting sand from the Feni River in Mirsharai of Chattogram.

The BNP leader also claimed that a Jamaat leader had allegedly taken money from people by promising relief from a legal case in Feni. ''I have given only one or two examples. This indicates that Jamaat provides shelter to such activities.''