Mozena unhappy with Jamaat, says foreign minister

US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena said BNP should leave the company of Jamaat-e-Islami, reports an Indian newspaper quoting Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali.

The US high commissioner made the statement when the issue of violence was discussed in a meeting with Mahmud Ali yesterday, The Anandabazar, reported today.

The US has long termed Jamaat as a moderate Islamist group which should be allowed to retain political space in Bangladesh. Awami League has complained that the US administration, which supported Pakistan in 1971, is closer to the BNP.

The foreign minister claimed that such negative comments on Jamaat from the US are rare in recent times.

Earlier Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh had discussions with the White House regarding Bangladesh. Thanking India, Bangladesh wants New Delhi to take a bigger role in clarifying to the west, the daily report added.

The report added that Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu wants to show the US that Jamaat has ties with the Taliban and Pakistani extremists.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said that there may be fresh election that would include all democratic parties if the BNP severs all links with Jamaat and stops violence during blockades.