BNP leader and Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Rashed Khan has criticized the activities of the National Citizen Party (NCP) during the interim government and those of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami during the current government. He also urged political party leaders and activists to exercise restraint and work together to move the country forward.

Rashed Khan made the remarks in a post on his verified Facebook account on Tuesday (August 25).

In the post, he wrote, “During the 18 months of the interim government, we saw the dominance of NCP leaders, activists and coordinators. Every day, one leader or another made headlines in the media. That is why Shaheed Osman Hadi identified three crimes of the NCP—1. The NCP destroyed the July unity; 2. Just as the Awami League monopolized 1971, the NCP has monopolized July; 3. The NCP engaged in corruption, etc.”

He further wrote, “However, that is no longer being observed recently. It seems that after moving from the ruling party to the opposition, NCP leaders and activists no longer have the opportunity to engage in misconduct. They can no longer enter the Secretariat or a secretary’s room at will and do whatever they want. In this case, they appear honest due to a lack of opportunity. That is certainly a good thing. But the situation seems different in the case of Jamaat-Shibir. Their misconduct did not receive as much media attention during the interim government. But now, Jamaat-Shibir leaders and activists are increasingly becoming involved in misconduct.”

Rashed Khan further said many people believe that while there is usually a risk of ruling-party leaders abusing their power, leaders and activists of the main opposition party are instead becoming increasingly unruly.

Referring to this, he wrote, “That is why many are writing, ‘While members of the ruling party are supposed to abuse power, the leaders and activists of the main opposition party have instead become reckless. If they can become so reckless after moving into the opposition, then once they come to power, they will even surpass the Awami League.’ I do not want to say that.”

Finally, Rashed Khan stressed the importance of tolerance and accountability among political parties.

He said, “I will only say this much: everyone should be tolerant. We all have to work together to move the country forward. Alongside evaluating the ruling party after six months, let the opposition also be evaluated after six months so that transparency and accountability can be established in the country.”