TIB �associate body� of BNP, says Tofail

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) is one of the associate organisations of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said yesterday.
“TIB is not a political organisation. Yet, they claim that only an election could solve all problems. TIB cannot make such comments. TIB is a research-based organisation—they should work on research. I don’t know why they are talking like a political organisation,” the minister told reporters after a meeting with the Sri Lankan ambassador to Bangladesh, Yasoja Gunasekera, at the Secretariat.
Terming TIB’s statement on the shortage of quorum in Parliament as “totally incorrect”, Tofail Ahmed said, “There was also a shortage of quorum in Parliament when the BNP was in the Opposition. But now it is no longer there. So, TIB can be said to be an associate organisation of the BNP.”

There was much difference in TIB’s nature of work now, the minister said in reply to a query.
“TIB had never talked about elections before. But now they are talking about elections. This proves the point: on whose behalf are they talking?” Tofail Ahmed added. He further said early elections would not be possible in the country.
“TIB never expresses appreciation of Bangladesh’s development. I had never heard words of appreciation from TIB. Even US president Barack Obama has appreciated Bangladesh’s situation—but TIB has never done so,” the commerce minister further added.
Tofail Ahmed, who is also a member of Awami League advisory council, advised foreign diplomats in Bangladesh not to overreact to the killings of two foreigners.
“Two foreign nationals have been killed. I have suggested to the diplomats not to overreact to it. Otherwise, the criminals will get encouraged, after seeing the huge media coverage,” he added.
The commerce minister also said there was no IS agent in Bangladesh and the criminals acts were carried out by Jamaat-Shibir activists.
“After the failure of their movements and militant activities, they are now killing foreign nationals. The killings of an Italian and a Japanese and the bomb explosions at a Shia gathering are linked to each other,” Tofail Ahmed asserted. 

TIB �associate body� of BNP, says Tofail

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) is one of the associate organisations of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said yesterday. TIB is not a political organisation. Yet, they claim that only an election could solve all problems. TIB cannot make such comments. TIB is a research-based organisationthey should work on research. I dont know why they are talking like a political organisation, the minister told reporters after a meeting with the Sri Lankan ambassador to Bangladesh, Yasoja Gunasekera, at the Secretariat. Terming TIBs statement on the shortage of quorum in Parliament as totally incorrect, Tofail Ahmed said, There was also a shortage of quorum in Parliament when the BNP was in the Opposition. But now it is no longer there. So, TIB can be said to be an associate organisation of the BNP. There was much difference in TIBs nature of work now, the minister said in reply to a query. TIB had never talked about elections before. But now they are talking about elections. This proves the point: on whose behalf are they talking? Tofail Ahmed added. He further said early elections would not be possible in the country. TIB never expresses appreciation of Bangladeshs development. I had never heard words of appreciation from TIB. Even US president Barack Obama has appreciated Bangladeshs situationbut TIB has never done so, the commerce minister further added. Tofail Ahmed, who is also a member of Awami League advisory council, advised foreign diplomats in Bangladesh not to overreact to the killings of two foreigners. Two foreign nationals have been killed. I have suggested to the diplomats not to overreact to it. Otherwise, the criminals will get encouraged, after seeing the huge media coverage, he added. The commerce minister also said there was no IS agent in Bangladesh and the criminals acts were carried out by Jamaat-Shibir activists. After the failure of their movements and militant activities, they are now killing foreign nationals. The killings of an Italian and a Japanese and the bomb explosions at a Shia gathering are linked to each other, Tofail Ahmed asserted.