Dhaka: A prominent opposition leader in Bangladesh claims that the embassies of two Western nations have warned of a "plot" to kill him and that wanted criminals handed over by India would be assigned the job.
Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, a senior leader of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has alleged that the "plot" was to kill him and other opposition leaders, The Daily Star newspaper said on Friday.
"Two days ago I was cautioned by two western country embassies that according to deals between the Prime Minister and the Indian government, some most wanted criminals have been handed over to Bangladesh.”
"The embassies asked me to stay alert, saying the information (about the criminals being handed over) was not made public as those criminals would be assigned to kill me and top leaders of my party," Chowdhury said at an opposition-sponsored round table discussion.
He did not name the embassies and did not go into details, the newspaper said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during her India visit in January, had signed deals with India pertaining to exchange of prisoners, combating international terrorism, and mutual help in criminal justice. Leader of Opposition Khaleda Zia had termed the pacts Hasina signed as "a sell out".
Chowdhury is a key figure in a 2004 haul of an illegal shipment of arms in Chittagong port town.
A ship belonging to his company ferried 10 truckloads of arms and ammunition from China that were meant for the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), a banned militant organisation in India`s northeastern region.
Two former Bangladesh Army officers, who headed key intelligence organisations, and the home secretary at that time are currently in jail and are being tried for their alleged role in allowing the shipment into the country.
IANS
