‘Mariam might still be alive if Jamaat had forced Gazi Nazrul to resign’: PM’s aide Rashed

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s Political Assistant Md Rashed Khan on Thursday said Mariam Khatun, the second wife of Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Gazi Nazrul Islam, might still be alive if the party had forced the MP to resign.

In a Facebook post, Rashed wrote, “If Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman had forced Jamaat MP Gazi Nazrul Islam to resign, perhaps the little girl would not have had to leave this world.”

Rashed contrasted the BNP’s decision to ask reserved-seat lawmaker Ferdousi Ahmed Mishti to step down with Jamaat’s handling of allegations against Nazrul.

“Under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Ferdousi is going to resign,” Rashed wrote, adding that the BNP does not shelter anyone accused of wrongdoing and takes action when an offence is established.

Mariam’s body was recovered from a flat at NAM Bhaban in Dhaka on September 20. Her father, SM Masum Billah, subsequently filed a case against Nazrul, his first wife Maksuda Begum and the lawmaker’s former driver Obaidur Rahman, accusing them of abetting suicide.

A Dhaka court has since placed Nazrul on multiple rounds of remand. He was later sent to jail after two rounds of questioning. The case remains under investigation.

Rashed also warned that those seeking to tarnish the prime minister’s image or misuse the BNP’s name for personal interests would face action.

His comments came after the BNP moved to have Ferdousi resign over allegations surrounding the September 25 attack and demolition of the nearly 50-year-old RADDA MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur.

Ferdousi has denied involvement in the incident, while the allegations remain under investigation.