BNP’s Hannan says RAW released Aslam’s photo with Israel politician in Bangladesh media

BNP leader ASM Hannan Shah has admitted the authenticity of the group photo where his party comrade Aslam Chowdhury is seen with an Israeli politician.

But Hannan Shah sees Indian spy agency RAW’s involvement in getting the photo published in Bangladesh media.

Amidst widespread criticism over the meeting between the BNP leader and the Israeli politician in India, Shah said in a discussion on Sunday, “We are not denying the photo. He (Aslam) hasn’t denied it as well.”

“He (Aslam) said (the Israeli politician) wanted to take a photo when they met in the hotel, and he agreed,” Shah said. 

“The Indian intelligence agency was involved in publicising the photo to malign, slander BNP.

BNP leader ASM Hannan Shah (File Photo)

“He (Aslam) is a tall man. There is a saying in the army – tall people are short on intelligence,” the former brigadier general said.

"I know RAW provided the photo," Shah added.

Later in the day, BNP Joint Secretary General from Chittagong Aslam was arrested for his suspected link to a ‘conspiracy’ with Israel to topple the Hasina government. 

Aslam is seen in several photos with Israel Likud party leader Mendi N Safadi taken from the Facebook page of Mendi N Safadi Center for International Diplomacy and Public Relations. 

Some of the photos were taken during a programme titled 'A Talk On Indo-Israel Relations' organised by DelAviv in New Delhi in March.

One of the photos raised eyebrows in Bangladesh after a newspaper published it.

When Shah was speaking, Aslam was facing a bar from leaving the country.

"Arrest warrants and bans are regular incidents (for BNP leaders)," Shah said.

He claimed people in the government and the ruling party have intimacy with a number of foreign intelligence agencies.

He also said Awami League leaders were not right to point finger at Aslam since even Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has "announced her daughter-in-law is a Christian-Jew".

"People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," the former minister said.