Report refuted

Dhaka has dismissed Indian media reports that the deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh was summoned by the chief minister of West Bengal.

Leading Indian newspaper The Hindu in a report yesterday said Mamata Banerjee summoned Abida Islam, the deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh, following publication of news in Kolkata's top Bengali newspapers that All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) funded Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh "to destabilize the Awami League government in Bangladesh".

The report claimed that Bangladesh foreign ministry sources in Delhi confirmed Islam's meeting with Mamata.

“Attention has been drawn to some media reports about the matter. The news is not based on fact,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a prompt response to media reports in India.

The FM statement also said, “…upon request from the deputy high commissioner, the chief minister of West Bengal has given time for her to pay a courtesy call …. on September 15.”

The Hindu report, headlined “Mamata summons Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner”, says, "The Deputy High Commissioner, Abida Islam will meet Ms Banerjee on Saturday. Historically, Awami League is considered as a pro-India political party in Bangladesh."

Quoting a senior leader of AITC, it further says, " Ms Banerjee will give a 'piece of her mind' to the Deputy High Commissioner for 'selective leaks in media violating protocol' against a ruling party in the State."

Meanwhile, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam yesterday said that the government is investigating claims, made by Indian media reports, that Jamaat-e-Islami has links with AITC.

“We have taken the issue [funding] seriously,” Shahriar told reporters after a programme on non-resident Bangladeshis (NRB) at Sonargaon Hotel yesterday afternoon.

Top Bengali newspapers in Kolkata alleged crores of Saradha scam money had been funnelled to Jamaat leaders in Bangladesh in 2012-13 through Ahmed Hassan Imran, a Rajya Sabha member from West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress.

Meanwhile, Rahul Sinha, the president of West Bengal state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party, has requested Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh to inquire into the alleged links between Jamaat and AITC, reports our Delhi correspondent.

"We have recently seen various media reports that money from Saradha chit fund was used to fund terror in Bangladesh and for anti-India activities. It is a matter of national interest and security. So we have requested the home minister to inquire into the matter," Sinha told reporters in Kolkata today.

Sinha also refuted allegations by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that BJP was carrying on a vilification campaign against AITC.