Jamaat may go underground if banned, fears Muhith

Shrugging off the allegation of government-Jamaat entente, Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday feared that the Islamist might go underground if it is banned, report agencies."It's rubbish. We discussed yesterday. How could Jamaat have talks with us? Jamaat itself is spreading this, and BNP is with them. "They (Jamaat) are experts in killing," he said as reporters wanted to know whether the government has had any entente with Jamaat.  Muhith was talking to the journalists after a meeting with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) managing board team at his secretariat office in the capital. ADB Executive Director Maliami Bin Hamad led the delegation.

About the Jamaat's ongoing hartal protesting the Supreme Court verdict on its leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee, the finance minister said, "For what they've called the hartal. They don't believe in Bangladesh. It's a bloody party."

Muhith also said the present government will be there in power for five years and its aim during the period will be to ensure development and public welfare.

"They (Jamaat) are spreading rumours deliberately (to cause confusion amongst pro-liberation and secular forces)," Muhith told reporters.

Asked about the Jamaat's countrywide strike, he exclaimed: "What strike? Don't you see how this one is being observed?"