November 29, 2002	Friday	Ramazan 23, 1423

DHAKA, Nov 28: Bangladesh on Thursday rejected renewed Indian charges it was harbouring Al Qaeda extremists, but said it would investigate the allegations.

Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Morshed Khan told reporters at a hastily-called press conference: “Yes, I reject the charges,” reiterating remarks made just hours earlier by Foreign Secretary Shamser Mobin Chowdhury.

“We will investigate, it cannot be washed away,” the foreign minister told reporters.

Top Indian diplomat Yashwant Sinha on Wednesday told the Indian parliament that “some Al Qaeda elements have taken shelter in Bangladesh.

“Though foreign media has also reported several such instances, our own sources have also confirmed many of these reports.”

Morshed Khan said Bangladesh stood together with India in the “war against terrorism”, blaming the Awami League chief, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, on a visit to India, for whipping up the image of Bangladesh as a haven for terrorists.

Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday did not confirm if Al Qaeda elements were operating in the country, but said terrorism was a problem there.—AFP