Nahid Islam, Convener of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), has strongly criticized the inclusion of Dr. Khalilur Rahman in the newly formed BNP-led cabinet.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after taking oath as a Member of Parliament at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, he questioned the neutrality of the former interim government adviser. According to Nahid Islam, Dr. Khalilur Rahman’s appointment as a minister raises concerns about the integrity of the recent election.
“If Khalilur Rahman becomes a minister in a party-led government, it naturally raises questions—was he working in favor of a particular political party while serving in the interim government? What we have been calling ‘election engineering’ is reflected in this decision,” Nahid said.
He alleged that the NCP was deliberately deprived of several parliamentary seats and that the ruling party secured a two-thirds majority in a planned manner to obstruct constitutional reform initiatives.
“Many of our seats were strategically reduced. The entire process reflects large-scale engineering,” he claimed.
Referring to the constitutional reform issue, Nahid Islam further alleged that despite a ‘Yes’ verdict in the referendum, the government did not arrange for the swearing-in of the Constitutional Reform Council alongside Members of Parliament. He argued that prior directives had stated both oaths would be administered in the same event, and any deviation from that could create legal and constitutional complications.
It is worth noting that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured an absolute majority in the 13th National Parliamentary Election and formed the government. Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Prime Minister.
Nahid Islam’s remarks have triggered renewed debate in political circles over the transparency of the election process and the government’s approach to constitutional reform.
