Pro-ISI Lt Gen Zahirul Alam set to be Bangladesh's Dy NSA
Md Yunus-led interim regime
in Bangladesh could appoint Lt Gen Abu Tayub Md Zahirul Alam, infamous for his links with Pakistan's ISI and fanning anti-India sentiments, as the deputy national security adviser.
Zahirul Alam is a batchmate from the Army of the regime's current home advisor
Jahangir Alam
and former PM Khaleda Zia's late brother Sayeed Iskandar, both known for their close links with Pakistan. Jahangir Alam was head of border guards when BNP was last in power during 2001-06. Zahirul Alam's close links with Islamabad is evident from the fact that he once gave Pakistan military officials access to Bangladesh's National Defence College. He once served as the commandant of the National Defence College and was later appointed as a member of board of trustees of Hamdard Laboratories, Bangladesh.
Zahirul Alam has close links with Yunus and hails from Yunus' native place in Chittagong. This explains the move behind appointing him as the deputy NSA. The appointment could further dent Dhaka's ties with New Delhi, according to Dhaka-based experts who did not wish to be named.
Zahirul Alam's close associate Maj (retd) Iskander was a younger brother of Zia and served as a member of the Bangladeshi parliament (Jatiya Sangsad) from 2001 to 2006, representing BNP from the Feni-1 constituency. He was also the founding chairman of Islamic Television and known for patronising anti-India and extremist forces. Iskander took care of BNP's overall election affairs in 2001.
Iskander, who passed away in 2012, was also instrumental in providing arms and training to insurgents in Mizoram and Assam.
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