Voices of protest came from Israel on Monday after Dhaka arrested an opposition leader on charges of plotting a coup, soon after he met a politician and think tank owner from Israel, during a recent trip to Delhi.
‘Accidental meeting’Aslam Chowdhury, the arrested Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), had informed the media that the meeting with Mendi N. Safadi in Delhi was “accidental” but Mr. Safadi had posted photographs showing them in civic receptions in Delhi.
Bangladesh and Israel do not have normal diplomatic ties and the unusual meeting became a talking point in Bangladesh as a “handshake with Israel” was unusual for a Bangladeshi politician.
The Israeli think tank, Mendi N. Safadi Centre of International Diplomacy and Public Relations, which claims that the meeting was held to discuss “minority rights protection,” has demanded that Mr. Chowdhury be released.
“Aslam was invited by the youth [wing] of the BJP, as was Mr. Mendi N. Safadi — the head of Safadi Centre of International Diplomacy and Public Relations. Mr. Safadi is a politician who is an expert in fighting terrorism and in international diplomacy and was invited to lecture and strengthen India-Israel relationship.
“Mr. Aslam was invited for his support to the minority Hindus in Bangladesh. We demand immediate release of Mr. Chowdhury and removal of all the restrictions imposed on him,” the Mendi N. Safadi Centre of International Diplomacy and Public Relations said in a statement issued over the Internet.
However, on Monday, Bharatiya Citizens Security Council which was cited by Mr. Safadi as his contact in India, said that though Mr. Safadi was present at an event, the organisation did not take responsibility for organising his meetings in Delhi and that he also attended events organised by others.
“We provide platform for free thinkers to come and discuss their concerns and it was in that spirit that Mr. Safadi presented his thoughts against religious fanaticism. We are not responsible for his meetings with any Bangladeshi leader that are being cited in the media,” said Vijay Kumar “Bharat,” the national convener of the Bharatiya Citizens Security Council.
