A press release issued in London on March 20 by Lord Avebury, also the Chair of International Bangladesh Foundation, said, "Lord Avebury, while acknowledging Bangladesh's progress and praising the arrest of JMB Chief Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai, said its economic problems were linked to the political process and human rights situation."

At a meeting with Bangladesh's High Commissioner Sabiuddin Ahmed in London, Lord Avebury expressed his keenness to find out who provided cover and shelter to Bangla Bhai and who were their political masters.

Another meeting participant Dr Charles Tannock, enquired about the Islamic radicalisation of politics, Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh government's telecommunication minister's involvement in the terrorist activities of the JMB and Bangla Bhai whose existence the government had previousely denied, it added.

The press release quoted Bangladesh's envoy as saying that it was essential to keep the Jamaat-e-Islami within the constitutional process.

"The authorities had arrested 550 terrorists; charge sheets had been submitted against 123, while 250 cases had been filed and the courts had sentenced 40," said the high commissioner.

Lord Avebury also wanted to see the perpetrators of the murder of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria and the attempted murders of British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina brought to justice.

The Bangladesh envoy said a charge sheet had been framed against five people including a local BNP leader for the murder of Shah AMS Kibria, and three people had been arrested in connection with the attack on Sheikh Hasina.

He also gave the meeting confidential information about the investigation of the attempted murder of Anwar Chowdhury in which bystanders had been killed.

Sabiuddin Ahmed said his government had accepted the opposition's demand to sit and discuss the reforms when at last they had returned to Parliament after a long boycott.

He also said if agreement could be reached, anything is possible within the Constitution.