February 6, 2002	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 22, 1422

DHAKA, Feb 5: Dhaka on Tuesday rejected claims by New Delhi that Pakistani agents were orchestrating attacks on India from Bangladesh.

“Bangladesh does not allow its territory to be used by insurgents or terrorists against any other country,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.

“Such allegations are unfortunate as they run counter to fostering better Bangladesh-India relations,” the spokesman said.

Indian intelligence officials have accused Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agency of securing a foothold in West Bengal through the infiltration of extremists over the porous Bangladesh border.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya has expressed concern about what he said was growing ISI influence in areas bordering Bangladesh.

The state’s communist government has also vowed to regulate madrassas.—AFP