'Aslam names masterminds'

Police yesterday claimed that BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury divulged the names of the "masterminds" who had sent him for a meeting with an Israeli politician and gave some crucial information.

"He confessed many things. He divulged the names of the participants in the meeting," Monirul Islam, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told reporters at a press briefing at DMP media centre.

Replying to a query, Monirul said Aslam also gave the names of the groups who encouraged him to attend the meeting and also disclosed their plan.

"In our investigation, we've found evidence enough to back up the charges against him," he said.

The DMP official said they were verifying the information and would take action against the people if the information were found true.

 The Daily Star could not independently verify the police's claims.

The BNP leader, who was arrested on May 15, had been sued for treason and is now on a five-day remand for the third time.

Citing examples of the recent killings and attacks, Monirul said the main objective of the attacks is to embarrass the government and prove that it is failing to protect the minority people.

Aslam during his meeting tried to convince the participants and local Indian leaders that the Bangladesh government directly or indirectly is torturing and killing minority people and grabbing their land, the DMP official claimed.

The BNP rejected the government's claim that Aslam was engaged in a conspiracy to topple the government with the assistance of Israeli secret service Mossad.