Jamaat seeks out India

Immediately after accusing India of trying to turn Bangladesh into a 'colony', the Jamaat-e-Islami is now seeking to 'communicate' with India on regional issues.

In an interview to Kolkata's 'Ananda Bazar Patrika' published Wednesday, Jamaat spokesperson barrister Abdur Razzaq has said the party wants a 'dialogue with India on the entire gamut of issues involving India-Bangladesh relations'.

"Our image in India is very negative and India has closed its doors on us. I have not been able to get an Indian visa for the last five years. This should not happen," Razzaq, who is also the party's top defence lawyer in the war crimes trial, told 'Ananda Bazar'.

"We have good contacts in the US and Europe, but not in India. But my party wants a comprehensive dialogue with India."

That became evident when Western countries including the US tried to stop the hanging of Abdul Quader Molla while India described it as an 'internal affair of Bangladesh'.

The Jamaat pitch for a 'dialogue' with India comes at a time, when the party that supported Pakistani military crackdown and opposed Bangladesh's independence, stands de-registered as a political party which makes it impossible for it to contest elections.

Security forces have also launched a countrywide hunt for Jamaat activists involved in violence that has left scores dead in the wake of the hanging of party leader Abdul Quader Molla.

India says it has serious reservations about Jamaat-e-Islami because of its alleged links with Islamist radical groups involved with terrorist activities in both Bangladesh and India.

Delhi has also not taken kindly to Jamaat blaming India for trying to turn Bangladesh into a colony in party publications.