BNP leader held for ‘planning coup’

Stands accused of attempting to overthrow Sheikh Hasina's govt. with Israel’s help.

The Bangladesh police on Sunday arrested senior Opposition leader Aslam Chowdhury for allegedly conspiring with Israel to overthrow the government of Sheikh Hasina.

Mr. Chowdhury, recently appointed the joint general secretary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, came under the scanner after a daily here ran a report last week on a meeting between him and Mehdi N. Safadi, a leader of Israel’s ruling Likud party, in New Delhi.

Controversy erupts

The newspaper also published photographs of the two meeting, sparking uproar in the country’s media and political circles. Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation, does not have any diplomatic relations with Israel and its citizens are banned from travelling there. Dhaka is also vocal against Israeli atrocities in Palestinian territories.

“We [Bangladesh] cannot think of relations with Israel,” junior Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam said earlier this week.

Mr. Safadi, who runs a think tank called the Centre for International Diplomacy and Public Relations, visited New Delhi to attend an event organised by the Bharatiya Citizens Security Council. He also travelled to Agra and Moradabad during the trip.

Talking to The Hindu , he said that his visit was “open” and there was nothing to hide. “My visit to India was to strengthen the ties between the nations. My meeting with people from Bangladesh touched Hindu minority rights, and international lobbying to save the Hindus in Bangladesh. I do not work with Mossad. I’m a political person,” the Israeli leader said.

Personal visit

Mr. Chowdhury, a close aide of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, was on his way to Dhaka’s Narayanganj outskirt when the police arrested him.

Two others, including the BNP leader’s driver, were also detained.

Mr. Chowdhury had earlier admitted he met the Israeli politician but claimed the meeting was “accidental.” The BNP also dismissed the charges, saying that the visit was a “personal” one.

The Palestinian envoy in Dhaka, meanwhile, said it would be a “political suicide” for any Bangladeshi party to maintain ties with Israel.