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Khaleda on Polls Campaign

BNP overplayed JMB arrest

WikiLeaks cable discloses it was a bid to divert public attention from graft-accused Koko

Star Report
In the run up to the last parliamentary elections, BNP attempted to divert attention away from a corruption scandal involving Khaleda Zia's younger son by decrying an alleged plot against the party chief, said a recently leaked US diplomatic cable.
The cable sent to Washington on December 24,2008, said hours after BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had addressed a campaign rally in Comilla on December 23, the Rab arrested two operatives of the banned extremist group Jama'atul Mujahideen and seized crude
improvised explosive devices from a safe house two miles away from the rally site.
"The BNP was quick to claim extremists had been plotting to attack her [Khaleda Zia], and the party hastily called for nationwide protests December 24," the cable said, adding "As of midday on the 24th, BNP supporters had organized scattered protests, with additional demonstrations planned for later in the day."
The diplomatic cable said undeterred by the alleged threat, Khaleda Zia continued her campaign outside Dhaka, as did her rival AL President Sheikh Hasina, who left the capital early in the day for campaign stops in northern region.
The cable said newspaper headlines in the morning of December 24 carried Khaleda Zia's claims that the militants had planned to bomb her rally. Those behind the alleged attack had feared a BNP victory and were intent upon preventing her from returning to power, she claimed.
"As details of the December 23 incident emerged, it became apparent the BNP had decided to exploit the incident for political purposes. The BNP's protest call appeared intended to motivate party supporters to rally around the Chairperson," said the cable.
The diplomatic cable said conveniently, the incident also bumped the story of Khaleda's youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko's involvement in the Siemens graft scam. Local newspapers had led the previous day with allegations that Koko had siphoned millions of dollars into bank accounts in Singapore, including payments from Siemens for favorable treatment in a cellular phone tender, it said.
"Police tell us IKhaleda] Zia was never in danger, and the encounter took place 4 km away from the rally venue. At the same time, (Khaleda] Zia's security personnel have claimed they were warned to avoid the rally venue and have told us they altered her programme in response to these warnings," the US embassy said in the cable.
"Awami League sources told us they were also warned about a possible attack on December 23. We continue to press counterparts for additional information about the incident and any threats against the two political leaders," it added.