Though the government still unsure of the authenticity of the audiovisual message of al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam suspects BNP-Jamaat’s hands in it as he finds similarities between the contents of the message and their recent remarks on various issues.
He came up with the remarks at a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry on Sunday afternoon.
Shahriar Alam, however, said they would be able to know whether the audiovisual message is authentic or not, within the next couple of days. “There’s a process to identify the authenticity…but that has also limitation as things are not recognized clearly and comprehensively.”
Referring to recent remarks came from the BNP leadership, he said the audiovisual message contains similar message what BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia had told on May 5 regarding the Hefazat issue, attacks on Muslims and various numbers and figures regarding killings.
On Jamaat’s possible involvement behind the audiovisual message, he said, “…very clear…if you look at the happenings…not that current issues came up in it (audiovisual)…Jamaat’s positions have been reflected. So, directly, Jamaat’s involvement comes into it.”
The State Minister said Bangladesh has developed the capacity to resist such threat. “On the basis of the capacity that Bangladesh has developed, we can say, Bangladesh won’t tolerate such threat.”
Asked whether Bangladesh is being used by al-Qaeda, he ruled out any such possibility saying the network of terrorists has been uprooted in the last five years.
The audiovisual message urged the Muslims in Bangladesh to wage an intifada (popular uprising) to confront the “crusader onslaught against Islam”.
The message titled, ‘Bangladesh: A Massacre behind a Wall of Silence’, was posted in Jihadology.net on Saturday although it was released on January 14.
The message alleged that thousands of people were being killed on the streets of Bangladesh for protesting the “collusion of the anti-Islam secular government with a bunch of transgressing secularists”.
Source: UNBConnect