"Police have nothing to do if there is no existence of the so-called Bangla Bhai. Whom should they arrest?" said Nizami while exchanging views with reporters of national dailies at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Nizami, also the ameer of ruling coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami, was replying a query why police did not arrest Bangla Bhai, flouting an order of the prime minister.

He however quickly changed his stance when reporters referred to the newspaper interviews and photos of Bangla Bhai. He said, "We cannot reject outright the existence of Bangla Bhai…. …What we can say is that Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh has no link with any such groups including Harkatul Jihad."

Social Welfare Minister and Secretary General of Jamaat Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, present at the programme, supported his ameer's view, saying, "The prime minister's directive was in this line -- if there is any one who takes law in his own hands, police have to arrest him immediately."

Later, Nizami told the newspersons that the government's efforts against him [Bangla Bhai] have not exhausted yet.

Without directly supporting the activities of Bangla Bhai, dreaded operation commander of Jagrata Muslim Janata of Bangladesh (JMJB), the Jamaat chief maintained, "People of the north-western districts have spontaneously resisted crimes of Sarbahara men, including killing and extortion. It is only natural for police to take co-operation from the general people in maintaining law and order."

He said the media appear less concerned about activities of Sarbahara men engaged in extortion and killing and keener to project Bangla Bhai, whose very existence is in question. He termed the activities of Bangla Bhai as 'a drop of water' compared to the 'sea of crimes' by Sarbahara men.

Nizami admitted that, during her recent meeting with him, visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca wanted to know about Bangla Bhai and banning of Ahmedia publications.

Asked if the militant groups in the country have any link with international terrorist organisations, Nizami said pro-Jewish forces in control of international media are misleading the world opinion and forming terrorist organisations in the name of Islam with a view to prove that Islam involves terrorism.

"Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh has no link with such groups, which have no connection with Islamic movement but are only damaging the image of Islam," he asserted.

Replying to a question on prime minister's parliamentary advisor Salauddin Quader Chowdhury's observation that the OIC is a communal organisation, the industries minister said it is an organisation of the Muslim world.

"Salauddin Quader Chowdhury himself claimed that he did not utter any abusive remarks about the leader of the opposition," Nizami replied, when a reporter asked for his reactions on SQ Chowdhury's recent indecent remarks.

Other Jamaat lawmakers were also present at the programme.