Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday questioned why two senior Jamaat-e-Islami leaders did not resign from the BNP-led four-party alliance government between 2001 and 2006 if that administration was truly corrupt, rejecting allegations now being made against his party.

Addressing an election rally at the Mymensingh Circuit House ground on Tuesday afternoon, Tarique Rahman said a political party is currently using the same rhetoric against BNP that was once used by an ousted autocratic regime. He said BNP is being branded as a champion of corruption using language identical to that of the former autocracy.

Raising his question directly, Tarique said Jamaat-e-Islami had two cabinet members in the BNP-led government from 2001 to 2006. He asked why they did not resign if BNP was as corrupt as is now being claimed.

He answered the question himself, saying they did not resign because they knew Khaleda Zia was firmly cracking down on corruption and did not tolerate it.

During the BNP-led four-party alliance government, Jamaat-e-Islami’s then ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid served as ministers. Nizami was first appointed agriculture minister and later given the industries portfolio, while Mujahid served as social welfare minister.

Tarique Rahman said international statistics consistently show that corruption declined during Khaleda Zia’s tenure. He said when she assumed office in 2001, Bangladesh gradually began to emerge from deep-rooted corruption.

He argued that the continued presence of Jamaat ministers throughout the BNP government’s term proves that current allegations against BNP are false and self-contradictory.

As part of BNP’s nationwide election campaign, Tarique Rahman arrived in Mymensingh by road at around 3:30 pm. His wife, Zubaida Rahman, was also present on the stage. Party leaders and activists from Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Netrokona and Sherpur attended the rally.

Calling for unity ahead of the February 12 election, Tarique Rahman urged voters to remain united as they were in 1971 and during the mass movement of August 5, 2024. He said people from all regions, religions and communities stood together during those historic moments and must do so again to build a future Bangladesh based on democracy and accountability.

He called on voters to guard polling centres from early morning, remain present throughout voting hours and stay vigilant to prevent vote rigging, saying the public has been deprived of genuine voting rights for many years.

Outlining BNP’s proposed policies, Tarique Rahman mentioned plans for family cards for women, farmer cards for farmers, health cards for all citizens and measures to address unemployment. He sought votes for BNP candidates under the party’s electoral symbol to implement these plans.

He introduced 24 BNP candidates from Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Netrokona and Sherpur districts, urging voters to elect them and give BNP the opportunity to serve the people.

The rally was chaired by Mymensingh South district BNP convener Zakir Hossain Babul and conducted by divisional joint organising secretary Abu Wahab Akand, South district member secretary Roknuzzaman Sarkar and North district joint convener Motahar Hossain Talukder.

After the Mymensingh rally, Tarique Rahman departed for Gazipur to address his next election gathering. He launched his election campaign on January 22 in Sylhet after visiting the shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal and Hazrat Shah Paran, and has since addressed multiple rallies across the country as part of BNP’s phased nationwide campaign.