Natural to suspect BNP-Jamaat combine for foreigners’ killing in Bangladesh: Qamrul

Food Minister Qamrul Islam says he feels it is “only natural” to suspect the BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami for the recent killing of foreigners.

He alleged a “conspiracy” hatched by the alliance was becoming “increasingly virulent” as Bangladesh made significant progress under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.

“It’s natural to suspect BNP-Jamaat alliance under the circumstances,” he told a discussion in Dhaka on Sunday.

Assailants shot dead Italian Cesare Tavella in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone on Sept 28 and killed Japanese Kunio Hoshi in Rangpur on Oct 3 in a similar fashion.

Hasina on Saturday blamed BNP chief Khaleda Zia for the killings, an allegation the BNP said it found “ridiculous”.

Investigators are yet to make any headway in their investigations.

Qamrul warned that the BNP-Jamaat coalition was “plotting” something and could “strike at any time”.

“We’re concerned for Sheikh Hasina’s security,” the Awami League leader said. “We don’t want a repeat of 1975-like incident.”

Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most members of his family were assassinated on Aug 15, 1975.

Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana survived as they were abroad.

The Awami League has been blaming BNP-founder and Khaleda’s husband Ziaur Rahman for killings.