Bangladesh State of Emergency: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer believes diplomatic missions made it happen.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami considers activities of different diplomatic missions in the last one week as the main reason for declaring the state of emergency.

"Activities of different diplomatic missions round the week and the statement of United Nations secretary general have played major role in declaring the state of emergency," he told the BBC Bangla Service yesterday.

"The role of some diplomats indicates that they still think Bangladesh as their colony," he said. "The diplomats do not seem to consider that Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign country and has a constitution," Nizami said.

Replying to a question, he said violence by some quarters has increased following the activities of the diplomats. Many diplomats communicated with KM Hasan, which made him feel embarrassed and that led to the Awami League-sponsored violence on October 28, he added. "But we did not see any influence of the diplomats on those who nurture the confrontational politics," he said.

As the BBC asked him whether Jamaat would participate in the election under the new caretaker government, he said they will take decision after examining the speech of the president and the steps he takes.

For this and more on this crisis (including a useful chronology) please click here