Bangladeshi minister has new theory for Islamist terror: Israel

Israeli intelligence, Khan claimed, has been colluding with the Bangladeshi opposition to carry out a recent wave of killings.

By ZACK PYZER
Updated: JUNE 6, 2016 19:26
Vendors sell Bangladesh national flags in Dhaka (photo credit: REUTERS)
Vendors sell Bangladesh national flags in Dhaka
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan suggested on Monday that there is an "international conspiracy" behind the recent killings of secular bloggers and minorities in the country orchestrated by the Israeli government, which has claimed the lives of dozens of people.
According to the BBC, Khan claimed that Israeli intelligence has been colluding with the Bangladeshi opposition to carry out the killings. He failed to provide any evidence for his allegations.
The latest killings in the country saw the wife of a senior Bangladeshi police official known for battling Islamist militants stabbed and shot to death on Sunday.
Meanwhile, a machete-wielding assailants killed a Christian grocer in a separate incident claimed by ISIS later the same day.
Along with ISIS, al-Qaida and other domestic Islamist groups have claimed responsibility or been directly linked to almost all of the attacks, but this is not the first time the government has looked to move the blame elsewhere.
In May, Khan described the murder of the chief Buddhist monk at his monastery as a "stray incident," and blamed his relatives for the killing.
Bangladesh does not recognize the State of Israel, and does not allow people traveling on an Israeli passport to enter the country.
Israel has in the past attempted to begin diplomatic relations with the country.