With the issue of securing release for BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, chairman of LDP, Col (retd) Oli Ahmad has become active. It’s found that Jamaat’s secretary general, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, has become politically visible after a long tour overseas.
There is a rumour in the political arena that Jamaat is spearheading a new mission with Oli Ahmad as the front. Reportedly, two countries are giving assistance and advice on this matter though the names of the countries were not mentioned.
One LDP leader said, “Mirza Fakhrul has failed as an organiser while Dr. Kamal Hossain mentioned the politics of Bangabandhu several times during elections; since both have lost trust, Oli Ahmad has been brought to the front with support of several BNP leaders.”
It’s observed that though Oli Ahmad had always opposed Jamaat, a party accused of human rights violations in 1971, in recent times, he has increased his link with the party starting from February.
Oli Ahmad said in February, “if those Jamaat members living in this country are citizens then they must be given the right to get involved in politics.”
On 15 May last, Jamaat’s Amir, Mia Golam Parwar took part in a round table discussion organised by LDP and on 17 May, Jamaat secretary general, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and executive council member Abdul Hamid took part in an iftar gathering arranged by Oli Ahmad.
Becoming vocal in securing release of Khaleda Zia, Oli Ahmad has criticized BNP. However, Jamaat’s leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, said that Oli Ahmad’s statement is personal.
BNP has to think about the release of Khaleda Zia; what they are doing to get her freed is important, he added.
Political observers feel that the government has shown a lenient attitude towards him. Till mid-April, the Jamaat secretary general has visited Malaysia, the Philippines, London and Turkey.
In London, he met Jamaat Pakistan’s Nayeb e Amir, Khrushid Ahmed and in Turkey, met the former prime minister.
Jamaat sources says that his London tour was personal since he has many relatives there.
Several sources of BNP say that Jamaat had adopted different strategies for politics in the past; in 1991, the four party alliances became 18 party in April 2012 and the main architect was late Shafiul Alam Prodhan, who was helped from the background by Jamaat.
At that time, JAGPA, Labour Party, NDP, NPP and others joined the alliance.
