Delhi warns Dhaka of assassination plot
Sunday, 19 April 2009
India has warned Bangladesh's political leadership, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, of a possible assassination plot, an Indian newspaper reported Saturday, reports bdnews24.com.
The Indian Express said Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon had informed Dhaka of the threat during a recent visit.
Menon arrived in the capital on an "unscheduled visit" on April 12.
Bangladesh foreign ministry officials said it was the first time an Indian foreign secretary had arrived without prior announcement at such a short notice.
Indian officials in Dhaka had played down the 'unannounced' element, saying the trip was just "part of ongoing dialogue between friends, between neighbours."
The Express on Saturday, however, quoting unnamed sources, said Menon during the visit exchanged notes with his Bangladesh counterpart on the activities of radical groups that were suspected to have played a role in the recent BDR massacre.
The paper, quoting the sources, said: "New Delhi picked up intelligence on this in the form of 'electronic chatter' by terrorist groups active in the neighbourhood in recent weeks."
"[T]here was specific intelligence on a plot to target the new Sheikh Hasina government in those conversations intercepted by Indian intelligence agencies. That prompted India to go ahead and warn the Bangladesh top brass of the threat," it said.
Radical and terror groups in Bangladesh were under pressure since the Awami League-led grand alliance government came to power in January, pledging to crack down on terror elements, said the paper.
The Indian Express said Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon had informed Dhaka of the threat during a recent visit.
Menon arrived in the capital on an "unscheduled visit" on April 12.
Bangladesh foreign ministry officials said it was the first time an Indian foreign secretary had arrived without prior announcement at such a short notice.
Indian officials in Dhaka had played down the 'unannounced' element, saying the trip was just "part of ongoing dialogue between friends, between neighbours."
The Express on Saturday, however, quoting unnamed sources, said Menon during the visit exchanged notes with his Bangladesh counterpart on the activities of radical groups that were suspected to have played a role in the recent BDR massacre.
The paper, quoting the sources, said: "New Delhi picked up intelligence on this in the form of 'electronic chatter' by terrorist groups active in the neighbourhood in recent weeks."
"[T]here was specific intelligence on a plot to target the new Sheikh Hasina government in those conversations intercepted by Indian intelligence agencies. That prompted India to go ahead and warn the Bangladesh top brass of the threat," it said.
Radical and terror groups in Bangladesh were under pressure since the Awami League-led grand alliance government came to power in January, pledging to crack down on terror elements, said the paper.