BNP 'dissidents' under govt watch

Intelligence agencies are monitoring the movements of former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, former speaker Shaikh Razzak Ali, Oli Ahmed, MP, and some other party leaders including ministers and deputies who are close to Badruddoza, sources at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and home ministry said.

They said personnel of the intelligence agencies, including the NSI and DGFI, were posted to the leaders' houses and their telephones bugged.

"We are now closely watching the movements of the defectors. Necessary actions will be taken to keep them from any wrong that might go against the government," an important cabinet minister said.

The intelligence agencies have been asked to report to their contacts at the PMO and the home ministry about the movements of the 'dissidents' and the intelligence reports are being sent to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Before leaving for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, the premier called more than three ministers separately in a bid to wean off their links with the former president, sources said.

They said an intelligence agency recently reported to the premier of a meeting between some top BNP leaders and Badruddoza.

Witnesses said intelligence agents did not obstruct any visitor to enter the house of Razzak Ali and meet him, but inquired about their names and addresses.

"They have been asked not to disturb any of the leaders and their visitors, but to scan their activities and come up with complete reports," a source said.

Badruddoza, who was forced to resign on June 21 last year, came public last week and his press interview appeared in most dailies yesterday where he remarked that the nation was heading for a crisis and he would stand by people if need be. The full text of Badruddoza's interview was faxed to the premier on Friday night.

Sources said the intelligence agents also kept an eye on the movement of Mahi B Chowdhury, son of the former president and a BNP legislator, and the family of Razzak.

Razzak, who was appointed high commissioner to the United Kingdom by the alliance government, returned home from London in a discord with the government that he says reneged on the promise of giving him ministerial status.

The government replaced Razzak with former civil servant Mofazzal Karim in a huff.

The Bangladesh mission in Saudi Arabia was monitoring the movement of BNP front bencher Oli, now in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.