Dhaka: Former premier Khaleda Zia`s opposition BNP has dismissed as "irresponsible" a minister`s allegation that it had arranged a secret meeting between ex-Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf and jailed ULFA leader Anup Chetia here while it was in power and challenged him to prove the charge.
"This is an irresponsible allegation... come up with the proof if you have any," BNP secretary general Khandakar Delwar Hossain said.
He was reacting to local government minister and ruling Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam`s charge that the then BNP government had arranged the meeting between Musharraf and Chetia during a Dhaka visit of former Pakistan military ruler.
Hossain said in no way such comments were expected from a "responsible person like him (Islam)" and "he should not make such hollow remarks”.
Chetia was arrested here during the past 1996-2001 Awami League regime and still is in "security custody" despite the expiry of his jail term for cross-border intrusion.
Islam had alleged that Chetia met Musharraf for some one and a half hours as he was brought to the hotel suit of the former Pakistani president at Dhaka`s Sheraton Hotel from the Central Jail. Although he did not say when the meeting took place, Musharraf had visited Dhaka in July 2002.
PTI
