Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has condemned remarks by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton over the alleged ownership of 700 autorickshaws by a political party’s secretary-general, demanding evidence or a public apology.

In a statement issued on Friday, October 9, Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, assistant secretary-general of Jamaat-e-Islami and secretary of its central publicity and media department, said the remarks appeared to refer to the party’s secretary-general and former MP Mia Golam Porwar.

Zubair described the remarks as false, baseless and fabricated, and strongly protested against them.

He said government officials were expected to make responsible, evidence-based and appropriate public statements. Before making a serious allegation about a senior political leader’s personal ownership of 700 autorickshaws, the DNCC administrator should provide specific and reliable evidence, he added.

Making such allegations without presenting credible evidence was inconsistent with responsible conduct, Zubair said.

He also stressed that issues related to autorickshaw operations, traffic congestion, road discipline and drivers’ livelihoods should be addressed in light of ground realities and public interest.

Differences with a political party’s position on these issues should be addressed through evidence, reasoned arguments and practical measures rather than unsubstantiated allegations against its leaders, he added.

Zubair called on the DNCC administrator to publicly present specific and verifiable evidence supporting his remarks. If he fails to do so, the administrator should withdraw the statement and issue a public apology, he said.