BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed says he is not aware of Interpol notice

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed says he was not aware that Interpol has issued a red alert notice against him for "instigating violence" in Bangladesh.

He arrested in Meghalaya on charges of trespassing into India on May 21.

"I am not aware that the Interpol has issued a red alert notice against me. The charges against me are all fake and baseless and I don't like to further comment on it," Ahmed told IANS.

He spoke after he appeared before the court of chief judicial magistrate KM Lyngdoh Nongbri on Wednesday.

"I always wanted to go back home (Bangladesh) since my family and children are there but there is so much of political rivalry in my country.

“There are lots of things happening there and many people are missing in Bangladesh," said Ahmed, former state minister.

The BNP leader, who has been charged with violating Section 14 of the Indian Foreigners Act, said he would prefer to move to a third country for further medical treatment if the Indian court allowed him.

"I am under the legal procedure here in India. I leave it to the judgment of the court but if the court permits me, I will go (to a third country)," said Ahmed, who earlier wanted to go Singapore for his medical treatment.

Asked if he would seek for political asylum in India, he said: "I am just facing the legal procedure. I would not like to comment as of now. Let the legal procedures get over."

Earlier, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was quoted by the Bangladesh media as saying that Ahmed would be arrested after his return to Dhaka.

He would be tried on charges of instigating violence during the three months of general striks and blockade since Jan 5 that BNP-led-20-party alliance sponsored.

Ahmed was arrested after people alerted authorities about some suspicious movements by a man in an area in the state capital Shillong.

On June 5, a lower court in Meghalaya granted bail to Ahmed with three conditions that he should not leave the court's jurisdiction and after Ahmed's wife Hasina furnished a bail bond of Rs 200,000.

However, appearance of Ahmed, who went missing from Bangladesh since March 10 this year, in Shillong still remains a mystery.

Police and central intelligence agencies are yet to find out how he landed in Shillong.