MP murder, Bangla Bhai top Rocca-Hasina talks
Staff Correspondent
US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca yesterday met Leader of the Opposition President Sheikh Hasina and discussed recent assassination of AL lawmaker Ahsanullah Master, emergence of religious extremists in the north and Chittagong arms seizure."The US envoy expressed concern over the emergence of a religious extremist group in the northern districts reportedly under government patronisation," said Kazi Zafar Ullah, presidium member of the AL which Hasina heads, quoting the meeting discussion. The meeting that lasted for more than an hour at the AL chief's Dhanmondi house also discussed AL's stance on return to parliament, recent mass arrests of common people, persecution of religious minorities and political opponents, corruption, slide in law and order and recently-held municipal polls. "They (US) are well informed about Bangla Bhai's emergence with the support of the government and termed it as 'vigilante activities' of the government," said Zafar Ullah. Emerging from the meeting, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told reporters that the AL chief briefed the US assistant secretary about her party's stance on going back to the House and said the main opposition did not boycott parliament. "We are in parliament and took part in the obituary reference discussion on slain Awami League lawmaker Ahsanullah Master on May 12," Jalil quoted Hasina as saying. "Rocca expressed profound shock over the killing of Ahsanullah Master and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members," said Saber Hossain Chowdhury, a political secretary to the AL chief. On the issue of the party's comeback to parliament, Saber said, "We informed her about the atmosphere in the House where Awami League lawmakers submitted about 1,400 notices on different issues including price spiral of essentials, slide of law and order and unabated corruption, but none of the notices was accepted." "Moreover, the speaker did not accept any of the 900 questions of Awami League lawmakers raised for the prime minister's question hour," he continued. The AL leaders at the meeting also expressed grave concern at the recent emergence of Islamist militants in the country and 'government-sponsored oppression on opposition forces'. US Ambassador in Bangladesh Harry K Thomas aided Rocca during the meeting but did not respond to queries of the journalists. A number of women leaders and activists of the AL's women front shouted anti-government slogans during the arrival and departure of the visiting US assistant secretary.
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