Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Mohammad Rashed Khan has alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami is following the path of the Awami League in an effort to establish itself as a strong opposition party.

“As far as I understand, Jamaat is walking the path of the Awami League to reinvent itself as a strong opposition party,” he said.

Rashed Khan made the remarks in a post from his verified Facebook account on Monday (September 21).

In the post, he said the BNP government is having to run the country while dealing with the activities of two opposition parties. He alleged that the Awami League was attempting to create disorder in New York in connection with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to the United Nations.

He also alleged that Awami League and Chhatra League activists had set fire to buses and trains and detonated crude bombs in Bangladesh, while attempting to create disorder abroad.

Referring to Jamaat’s performance in parliament, Rashed Khan said many people at home and abroad had not accepted the party as an effective opposition because of what he described as the “weak performance” of its MPs after the election.

He further claimed that the National Citizens Party’s (NCP) merger into Jamaat had already ended its prospects of becoming an effective opposition force.

Rashed Khan said some believe Jamaat, having understood the situation, wants to retain its position as the opposition by intensifying activities on the streets. At the same time, he said, the Awami League is looking for an opportunity to return as the opposition because of the perceived weak parliamentary performance of Jamaat MPs.

“Overall, the BNP government has to run the country while dealing with the Awami League’s activities and Jamaat’s reckless politics,” he wrote.

He also criticized Jamaat for remaining silent over the Awami League’s activities surrounding the prime minister’s UN visit, saying the issue should have been addressed collectively.

“On the Awami League issue, Jamaat has taken a completely silent position,” Rashed Khan wrote, adding that it appeared “the old love of ’96 has come alive again.” He also questioned what position the NCP would take amid such a political alignment.