Hasina renews call for int’l probe into militancy

"If Interpol's cooperation was sought earlier by the government to arrest Shaekh Rahman and Bangla Bhai, why wouldn't they now be engaged in interrogating the kingpins?" she said in support of her contention for an impartial interrogation of the dreaded militant chief and his lieutenant.

Addressing a meeting at the auditorium of Diploma Engineers Institute to commemorate veteran Awami League leader Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, Hasina said bomb and grenade attacks by militants are not the problem of Bangladesh alone, it's an international problem. "So there is a necessity for interrogation by the international agencies," she said.

About the Prime Minister's claim of involvement of external forces into the JMB militancy and the IGP's rejection of it, Hasina wanted to know who is telling lies --- the PM or the IGP?

Referring to the arrest and torture of AL leaders after the Mymensingh cinema blasts and Shaekh Rahman's confession that he had ordered staging the blasts, she asked the government to explain the fact.

Terming once again the capture of JMB militant leaders as drama, Hasina pointed out several inconsistencies and genuineness of the operation by the law enforcers.

"Flaws were seen in staging the drama of capturing Shaekh Rahman and attempts were made to cover up the flaws in staging another drama during arrest of Bangla Bhai," she said.

Hasina said Shaekh was captured without any wounds and not handcuffed while Bangla Bhai was arrested with injuries and handcuffed.

The discussion organised by Bangladesh Legal and Logistic Assistance for the Distressed was addressed by AL leaders Tofail Ahmed, Abdul Jalil MP, Noor-e-Alam Siddique, Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Momtaz Hossain, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, JP leader Sheikh Shahidul Islam, Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, Prof Dr Abdul Mannan, Barrister M Hamidul Islam and Adv Sohrabuddin.