Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Friday called for a sudden protest, demanding the arrest and questioning of former advisers Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Khalilur Rahman over alleged “election engineering” during the 13th parliamentary polls.
The announcement came through the party’s verified Facebook page, urging supporters to join a rally and gathering at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka after Friday Jumma prayers.
Leaders and activists from various thanas and wards of the capital were called to participate.
Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar is expected to attend as the chief guest.
The protest follows claims raised by the party that the true will of the people was manipulated during the election.
On Thursday, party Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher held a press conference alleging that Rizwana Hasan’s remarks to journalists indicated her direct involvement in influencing election outcomes.
Taher said the public must know the method of “engineering” that allegedly prevented Jamaat from securing its rightful majority.
He also demanded a thorough investigation into who else was involved, including whether government officials—from DCs, SPs, UNOs, OCs to presiding officers—used state machinery and law enforcement to favour a particular party.
The Facebook post says, “In view of the crime of manipulating the people’s vote through election engineering, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka Metropolitan will hold a protest rally and gathering today, 6 March, Friday, after Jumma at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Inshallah. Chief Guest: Mr Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.”
