The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami termed the Barapukuria coal-mine case politically motivated, saying that the case was filed at a time when the caretaker government is planning to hold dialogue with political parties.

"Such case will harm the atmosphere of a meaningful political dialogue with the government," he told UNB on Thursday, two days after the corruption case was filed against detained ex-PM Khaleda Zia, 10 of her former cabinet colleagues, including Nizami, and five others.

Nizami, who served as Agriculture and Industry minister of the immediate-past BNP-led alliance government, said he had run the two ministries for 20 and 40 months and his secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed run Social Welfare Ministry for five years without ever patronizing any irregularities.

"Despite microscopic search, no evidence of corruption could be discovered against us," he said, wondering how they could be made accused being mere members of a committee (purchase committee). Nizami said generally purchase committee, studying papers and documents of ministries concerned, takes decisions considering interest of the country. He said the decision about the Barapukuria coal mine was taken with a main objective to combat power deficit by producing electricity.

Following the Barapukuria decision, he said, power was produced by using coal, meeting the growing power deficit in agricultural and industrial sectors in the northern region. "The future will tell whether the decision was damaging or beneficial to the country," he added.

In reply to a question, Nizami said if the case is brought to court, they would face it by legal means.

On current political developments, the Jamaat chief said, "We believe that there is no alternative to elections and we want meaningful and acceptable elections."

He hoped the caretaker government would ensure election free from black money and muscle power, with participation of all political parties.

Nizami said the government must play a responsive role so that any doubt and confusion cannot vitiate the election environment. Opposing the concept of national government, he said it is the responsibility of the caretaker government to ensure free and fair election to handover power to an elected representative government. "In-between, there is no scope in the Constitution for forming an unelected government," he said, adding that any such step cannot be the expectation of the people.

About lifting the state of emergency, Nizami said it should be withdrawn within a logical timeframe to carry on election activities according to the government roadmap and allow political parties to resume normal function and conduct electioneering.