http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/04/11/d40411011717.htm
The Daily Star, Vol. 4 Num 310
Sun. April 11, 2004
Staff Correspondent, Ctg
In a melodramatic statement, Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury alleged
yesterday the arms and ammunition seized on April 2 were sent by the USA
and Pakistan to arm Indian rebels camped in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
(CHT).
The mayor of Chittagong City Corporation claimed Indian secessionists
were running at least 50 to 60 training camps in the CHT and the weapons
were brought in to arm them under a sinister conspiracy to create unrest
in the subcontinent.
"I've information that members of some Indian rebel groups are being
trained in those camps on Bangladesh territory and (this is) known very
well by our government, too," Mohiuddin told a news conference at his
office yesterday.
Security sources however dismissed his statement reiterating that no
Indian rebel camps existed in the hill tracts.
The mayor said, "The arms cache seized at the Chittagong Urea Fertiliser
Limited [CUFL] jetty was smuggled in to hand them over to the
secessionist groups of northeastern Indian states including Assam,
Nagaland and Mizoram," adding the government was now frantically trying
to cover up the facts.
He also alleged that the huge consignment of arms had landed at the CUFL
jetty as per an arrangement made by the government and its signals to
coastguard, police and other agencies.
The mayor claimed the firearms were sent by the USA to create unrest in
India by arming its secessionists. "I'm say this with a challenge to
prove me wrong: the US wants to create unrest in the subcontinent to
prepare grounds for an invasion," he said, adding, "A big conspiracy
is
on behind this massive gunrunning."
Mohiuddin said, "The US and Pakistan want to take revenge on India for
helping us in 1971."
"The USA even tried to gain a footing here with the plea for introducing
scanning system at Chittagong Port with an ulterior motive to help the
gunrunners," the CCC mayor continued. "I also know that the arms hauled
here and shown as Chinese ones were a camouflage. But those seem to have
been manufactured either in Pakistan or in America."
Turning to the government's move for constructing a third bridge over
the Karnaphuli, the mayor demanded setting up a floating bridge to avert
siltation in the riverbed. He also urged the government to conduct a
feasibility study before taking up the construction project.
"If the bridge is built on concrete pillars, Chittagong Port, a source
of huge revenue for us, will surely be ruined within 10 years due to
heavy siltation," Mohiuddin warned and threatened to launch agitation in
the port city if his proposal for a floating bridge was turned down.
The mayor of Chittagong also suggested introducing transit facility
through Chittagong Port for Indian cargo to raise the revenue earning.
"Our revenue will increase five times if we allow transit facility to
the landlocked states of India," he said.