Dhaka, Jan. 30 -- Tarique Rahman has publicly challenged Jamaat-e-Islami over its past alliance with the BNP, asking why the party remained in coalition for five years if it now portrays the BNP as "bad".

Speaking at a campaign rally at Rangpur's Collectorate Eidgah Ground on Friday night, the BNP chairman accused Jamaat leaders of spreading false narratives about his party in recent days.

"There is a party that has been lying about the BNP for several days. They repeated it again today," Tarique said, addressing the issue directly.

Referring to the BNP-led government that came to power through the eighth parliamentary elections from 2001 to 2006, he highlighted that Jamaat was the main coalition partner during that period.

"They were...