In a Facebook message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Information and Communication Technology adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy claimed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had planned to kidnap him and killed him in the United States.

The ICT adviser said, ‘On 4 March I provided a victim statement in court before the sentencing of Rizve Ahmed Caesar, son of Mohammad Ullah Mamun, vice president of BNP’s cultural wing JaSaS.’

He claimed in the Facebook message, ‘Caesar was promised US $40,000 per month and given the first payment of US $30,000 in cash directly from very senior BNP leaders in Bangladesh. I cannot disclose their names because the investigation is ongoing. The BNP had planned to kidnap me and kill me here in the US.’

‘Again, these are not the actions of a political party. These are the actions of terrorists. This is what you expect from a group that burns innocent women and children alive,’ said Sajeeb Wazed Joy, also the son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Joy said, ‘Notice, however that the newspapers and our ‘civil society’ who never fail to speak against the Awami League are absolutely silent on this. The BNP can kill and kidnap, yet they will never blame the BNP directly. They always blame both parties. So what justification can they offer for the BNP trying to kill me here?’

‘The same ‘civil society’ claims the BNP burns innocent civilians because of personal conflict. When someone tries to kill me I take it very personally. I intend to pursue those responsible, no matter how high up they may be in the BNP. I will bring them to justice,’ The ICT adviser added.