Allegations of Obstruction at Manik Pashari’s Burial; Rashed Khan Criticizes Jamaat and NCP

Rashed Khan, a political assistant to the Prime Minister, has criticized Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) following allegations that the *janaza* (funeral prayer) and burial of freedom fighter Manik Pashari were obstructed. In a post on his verified Facebook account on Monday (October 26), Khan questioned the incident and criticized the political stance of both parties regarding their treatment of those with dissenting views.

According to Rashed Khan, the janaza and burial of Manik Pashari were obstructed because he had served as a witness in the case against the late Jamaat leader, Delawar Hossain Sayeedi. Khan alleges that, ultimately, Manik Pashari’s two daughters and a sister had to dig the grave by the light of mobile phones to complete the burial. However, the perspectives of the parties involved regarding these allegations have not been included in this report.

Raising Questions via the Principle of "Justice Even for Enemies"

In his Facebook post, Rashed Khan referenced the sentiment—often attributed to Shaheed Osman Hadi—of "seeking justice even for one's enemies," and questioned how the alleged obstruction of Manik Pashari’s janaza and burial aligns with such a principle.

He further remarked that if such acts—preventing the janaza and burial of those with opposing views—occur even before these groups attain power, the situation could deteriorate significantly should they ever come to power. In this context, he criticized the political role of Jamaat-Shibir.

Criticism Directed at the NCP

Rashed Khan also targeted the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) in his post. Labeling the party a "proxy organization" for Jamaat, he claimed that 80 percent of the NCP’s members and activists are former members of Jamaat-Shibir. No statistical evidence was provided in the post to support this claim.

Khan further alleged that the NCP has supported Jamaat during its political crises and has maintained a lenient stance toward the party, presumably in the hope of securing seat-sharing arrangements in the future. He further alleged that while the NCP speaks of a "new arrangement," it is, in fact, engaging in politics that legitimizes the controversial activities of Jamaat.

Towards the end of his post, he questioned the political role of the NCP, citing various controversies surrounding some of its leaders and activists.

Rashed Khan’s statement has brought to light allegations concerning the funeral prayer and burial of Manik Pashari, as well as a debate over the political stances of both Jamaat and the NCP. However, it is important to verify the veracity of these allegations and seek the perspectives of the parties involved.