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Published : 06 Mar 2026, 05:46 PM
Jamaat-e-Islami has demonstrated in Dhaka on Friday, demanding that Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and former advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan be questioned for their alleged roles in "election engineering" during the parliamentary polls held on Feb 12.
Following a brief rally at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the afternoon, leaders and activists of Jamaat’s Dhaka city units brought out a procession to press for their demands.
The protest follows allegations levelled against the two by Jamaat’s deputy chief Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher. On Thursday, Taher claimed that Khalilur, who was also the national security advisor of the interim government, played a key role in “manipulating election results”.
He also accused former advisor Rizwana of playing a direct role in “manipulating polls”.
Jamaat leaders called for a thorough investigation into the claims that the "people’s mandate was subverted" through election engineering.
While addressing the rally, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar challenged the remarks previously made by Rizwana regarding the mainstreaming of opposition parties.
"Is there any opposition in the country other than Jamaat-e-Islami?" Porwar asked.
"You [Rizwana] said those in the opposition were not allowed into the mainstream. We believe you couldn't have conducted this engineering alone. Reveal the names of those who were with you."
Taher on Thursday also highlighted Jamaat’s formal complaints linked to voting in 53 constituencies during the Feb 12 elections, which resulted in the BNP securing an absolute majority.
Porwar also touched upon Khalilur’s transition into the current cabinet, suggesting his appointment as foreign minister was a "gift" for services rendered during the interim period.
"Many senior BNP leaders previously spoke out against Khalilur Rahman. Yet, you joined their government. Surely those in the 'deep state' picked you for the cabinet," Porwar alleged.
"You helped that party [BNP] significantly during the interim government. This [ministry] is your reward. You played a vital role in the engineering, and there are many others involved."
