Alleged ISI funding to BNP slammed
Different political party leaders believe that the main opposition BNP received money from Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) ahead of the 1991 parliamentary elections and termed it a shameful incident for the nation and its politics.
They demanded that the government investigate the matter and find whether the BNP is still receiving money from the ISI.
The BNP has termed the allegation “baseless”.
During a hearing in the Pakistan Supreme Court, the ISI admitted to meddling in Indian's Northeast and funding BNP during 1991 general election, reported Daily Mail Online on March 15. Recently a UAE-based daily had alleged that ISI paid Rs 50 crore to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia ahead of the 1991 elections, it said.
By taking money from the ISI, the BNP proved that it nurtures the values and principles of Pakistan, a leader of Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bimal Biswas, told The Daily Star.
He said the ISI gave the money as the BNP has a pro-Pakistan political ideology.
“Any foreign funding in the politics of Bangladesh is harmful for the country's sovereignty,” said Bimal, also an Awami League-led 14-party combine leader.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan said, “It is a matter of great shame that Bangladesh's second largest political party took money from a foreign country's intelligence agency for election and political activities.
“They (BNP) took money from the ISI once, which was proven in the Pakistani court. But I doubt whether they (BNP) are continuously taking money from ISI!
“The government should inquire into the whole matter immediately and take appropriate steps accordingly.”
Talking to The Daily Star, Faruk said the ISI is widely blamed for sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan and its neighboring countries and Bangladeshis must understand how terrorism was created here in the country.
Communist Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim said the US Central Intelligence Agency had been financing the ISI for a long time and a portion of that money was coming to Bangladesh.
“Those who took money from the ISI should apologise to the nation,” he said, without naming anyone.
Alongside the US and Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and India are also financing political parties in the country. For example, he said, Jamaat-e-Islami regularly receives money from the Saudi government.
“The government should form a commission to let people know which countries are financing political parties in Bangladesh.”
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Shirin Akhter said such funding is not good for the country and its politics.
No patriotic leader can take money from a foreign intelligence agency, she said, urging the government to establish a mechanism to monitor such funding.
Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said the information about the funding was revealed by the former ISI chief Asad Durrani in Pakistan's Supreme Court and is not the allegation of his party or by any pro-government media.
He said the country is not safe with the BNP in it and the BNP chief has committed an unforgivable crime.
“BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia should seek apology to the countrymen and then leave the country for Pakistan,” he said.
Referring to the killing of thousands of AL leaders and workers since 1995, Hanif, also a special assistant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said the ISI wanted revenge with the help of the BNP at different times for Pakistan's defeat in 1971.
Both the BNP and the ISI wanted to turn Bangladesh into a failed state, he told The Daily Star.
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