Dhaka begins Day 1 of talks by blasting India: you behind our bombs

Bangladesh has held India responsible for its August 17 serial bombings in which 400 simultaneous blasts in 63 districts rocked Bangladesh and one person was killed. DG Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Major General Mohammed Jahangir Alam Choudhury, leading the Dhaka delegation at the three-day Indo-Bangla Border coordination conference today, claimed that investigations had revealed India’s involvement.

‘‘Explosives’’ and ‘‘people’’ behind the blast were from India, he said. ‘‘Our investigations have revealed that it was you (who is responsible)’’ General Choudhury said. ‘‘Indian criminals who had crossed over…are responsible for the (nationwide) blasts.”

An MEA spokesperson said New Delhi was “deeply shocked and dismayed at these remarks.’’ Calling them ‘‘baseless and scurrilous,’’ the spokesperson said: ‘‘(It’s) all the more shocking after constructive talks between the Bangladesh Rifles and the BSF.”

But DG BSF RS Mooshahary said that of the 500 people arrested in Bangladesh in connection with the blasts, only one was Indian: ‘‘Giyasuddin is living in Bangladesh for the past 17 years and is Bangladeshi for all purposes.’’ He added that “it is known internationally that leaders of North-East insurgent groups like Paresh Baruah and Anup Chetia are in Bangladesh.”