BNP sees ‘conspiracy theory’ in sedition charges against Aslam

The BNP has alleged the government has ‘adopted a conspiracy theory’ to charge its leader Aslam Chowdhury with sedition.

Spokesperson Ruhul Kabir Rizvi condemned on Friday the case against Aslam.

“A sedition case has been started against Aslam Chowdhury by inventing ‘conspiracy theory’ in politics,” Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi said at a discussion in Dhaka.

Police on Thursday initiated the case accusing Aslam of “conspiring to overthrow the Sheikh Hasina government in collusion with a leader of Israel’s ruling party”.

Police said Aslam had “confessed” during interrogation to “striking a deal” with Israeli Likud Party leader Mendi N Safadi.

“The government has filed the sedition case against Aslam Chowdhury, but there has not been single friendly protest against those who brought Israel’s Mendi N Safadi to India,” Rizvi said.

The case has been lodged under Sections 120/B (criminal conspiracy), 121/A (conspiracy to wage war against Bangladesh) and 124/A (sedition) of the Bangladesh Penal Code.

The highest punishment in the first section is death and life imprisonment in the other two.

A recently appointed BNP joint secretary general, Aslam came into the limelight because of his meeting with Safadi during an event in New Delhi this year.

Safadi was a former advisor to Israeli deputy minister MK Ayoub Karar. He also runs the Mendi N Safadi Center - for International Diplomacy and Public Relations. 

Leaders of the ruling Awami League have since claimed that the meeting between the two was part of a conspiracy to overthrow Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the help of Mossad.