PM’s India tour ‘unproductive’

Says Khaleda Zia

Khaleda Zia has described Sheikh Hasina’s recent India visit as a "total failure", because it “only gave and got nothing”. Many agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed only on issues and proposals given priority by New Delhi.Speaking at a press conference at her Gulshan office yesterday, the BNP chairperson said though the Prime Minister has returned home satisfied, people of Bangladesh are not happy with the outcome. Rather, they have become panicky. “They (people) did not want a host of agreements and MoUs. They wanted their dues,” she said.
The press conference was organised to give her party’s formal reaction, a day after the post-trip press conference by Sheikh Hasina.
Khaleda Zia accused then Indian government of nakedly interfering in Bangladesh’s internal politics ahead of the last elections, which she described as stigmatised and farcical.
“People firmly believe that it was the last Indian government that directly assisted in prolonging the rule of the Awami League, and this isolated government remains in power with India's direct support. This government could not or did not protect the national interests while signing agreements or MoUs with India. They are only continuing to pay their gratitude, sacrificing national interests, dignity and sovereignty,” she said.
Replying to a question, the BNP chairperson said if voted to power, the BNP would review all anti-State agreements and MoUs.
Asked whether the BNP would launch any agitation against, what it said were, anti-people agreements and MoUs, she parried the question, saying people would stand up against the misdeeds of the government.
Khaleda questioned the jurisdiction and rights of the present government, having no people's representative and consensus, in taking important decisions in national, international and regional areas.
She accused the government of signing of a number of agreements and MoUs on sensitive issues by ignoring the views of her party, as well as the people. They are worried about their long-term adverse impacts.
“We think, mistrust has deepened by signing of agreements and MoUs on sensitive matters, like defence, between the two countries by keeping people in the dark and without examining the views of the public,” she said.
Recalling the Premier’s statement that she went to India seeking friendship and got it, Khaleda said nothing can stand on thin air.
“She could not bring anything from India, but gave everything as per the demands of India,” she added.
Khaleda claimed that signing of agreements and MoUs with India in connection with defence cooperation, arms purchasing, line of credit loan, nuclear power project, import of diesel and power, increase of connectivity, satellite and cyber security would only increase the political, geographical and political expansionism on Bangladesh.
Replying to a question, she said her government had signed an agreement with China as it is an arms-exporting country, and they did it in consultation with the armed forces. There was need for modern arms.
She opposed purchasing arms from an arms-importing country, saying experts apprehend that purchasing arms from an importing country could have an adverse impact on quality.
The former Premier, however, said the BNP does not want hostility with India, rather they recall their assistance in achieving independence at the cost of many lives.
“We believe in resolving problems with India in different sectors, including economy, trade, water resources and energy, through cooperation and talks to make the independence meaningful. We want to live side by side with the Indian people in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation,” she observed.
Khaleda made it clear that Bangladesh’s people are aggrieved with the unilateral role of the previous Indian government to destroy the democratic system in the country and hoped that India would not repeat its previous mistakes and respect the attitude of the peaceful people of the country.
The BNP chairperson thinks that involvement of the West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, in the Teesta water sharing talks as a third party has undermined Bangladesh’s sovereign dignity.
She said the Teesta water sharing issue is a matter between two sovereign countries, and the Indian government has to resolve it.
Khaleda alleged that the Prime Minister questioned the necessity of the Ganges Barrage. Having failed to get the consent of the Indian government on Bangladesh’s proposed Ganges Barrage, she accepted the Indian proposal to relocate its site and carry out a fresh feasibility study.
She said a government without public support cannot protect national interests by taking a firm stand. “This is why the present government could not realise national interests from India based on equal dignity, and will not succeed in future as well,” she added.
In her written statement, Khaleda criticised the Prime Minister’s meeting with the ulema of the Qaumi Madrasa, influenced by Hafazat-e-Islami, and blamed her for mixing religion with poltics.
The former water resources minister, Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, explained the necessity of Teesta waters for Bangladesh, and rejected Mamata Banerjee’s alternative proposal to share waters from other common rivers.
Among others, the BNP secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamirudidn Sircar, Lt Gen Mahbubur Rahman, and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy were present on the occasion.

 

 

PMs India tour unproductive

Says Khaleda Zia

Khaleda Zia has described Sheikh Hasinas recent India visit as a total failure, because it only gave and got nothing. Many agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed only on issues and proposals given priority by New Delhi.Speaking at a press conference at her Gulshan office yesterday, the BNP chairperson said though the Prime Minister has returned home satisfied, people of Bangladesh are not happy with the outcome. Rather, they have become panicky. They (people) did not want a host of agreements and MoUs. They wanted their dues, she said. The press conference was organised to give her partys formal reaction, a day after the post-trip press conference by Sheikh Hasina. Khaleda Zia accused then Indian government of nakedly interfering in Bangladeshs internal politics ahead of the last elections, which she described as stigmatised and farcical. People firmly believe that it was the last Indian government that directly assisted in prolonging the rule of the Awami League, and this isolated government remains in power with Indias direct support. This government could not or did not protect the national interests while signing agreements or MoUs with India. They are only continuing to pay their gratitude, sacrificing national interests, dignity and sovereignty, she said. Replying to a question, the BNP chairperson said if voted to power, the BNP would review all anti-State agreements and MoUs. Asked whether the BNP would launch any agitation against, what it said were, anti-people agreements and MoUs, she parried the question, saying people would stand up against the misdeeds of the government. Khaleda questioned the jurisdiction and rights of the present government, having no peoples representative and consensus, in taking important decisions in national, international and regional areas. She accused the government of signing of a number of agreements and MoUs on sensitive issues by ignoring the views of her party, as well as the people. They are worried about their long-term adverse impacts. We think, mistrust has deepened by signing of agreements and MoUs on sensitive matters, like defence, between the two countries by keeping people in the dark and without examining the views of the public, she said. Recalling the Premiers statement that she went to India seeking friendship and got it, Khaleda said nothing can stand on thin air. She could not bring anything from India, but gave everything as per the demands of India, she added. Khaleda claimed that signing of agreements and MoUs with India in connection with defence cooperation, arms purchasing, line of credit loan, nuclear power project, import of diesel and power, increase of connectivity, satellite and cyber security would only increase the political, geographical and political expansionism on Bangladesh. Replying to a question, she said her government had signed an agreement with China as it is an arms-exporting country, and they did it in consultation with the armed forces. There was need for modern arms. She opposed purchasing arms from an arms-importing country, saying experts apprehend that purchasing arms from an importing country could have an adverse impact on quality. The former Premier, however, said the BNP does not want hostility with India, rather they recall their assistance in achieving independence at the cost of many lives. We believe in resolving problems with India in different sectors, including economy, trade, water resources and energy, through cooperation and talks to make the independence meaningful. We want to live side by side with the Indian people in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation, she observed. Khaleda made it clear that Bangladeshs people are aggrieved with the unilateral role of the previous Indian government to destroy the democratic system in the country and hoped that India would not repeat its previous mistakes and respect the attitude of the peaceful people of the country. The BNP chairperson thinks that involvement of the West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, in the Teesta water sharing talks as a third party has undermined Bangladeshs sovereign dignity. She said the Teesta water sharing issue is a matter between two sovereign countries, and the Indian government has to resolve it. Khaleda alleged that the Prime Minister questioned the necessity of the Ganges Barrage. Having failed to get the consent of the Indian government on Bangladeshs proposed Ganges Barrage, she accepted the Indian proposal to relocate its site and carry out a fresh feasibility study. She said a government without public support cannot protect national interests by taking a firm stand. This is why the present government could not realise national interests from India based on equal dignity, and will not succeed in future as well, she added. In her written statement, Khaleda criticised the Prime Ministers meeting with the ulema of the Qaumi Madrasa, influenced by Hafazat-e-Islami, and blamed her for mixing religion with poltics. The former water resources minister, Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, explained the necessity of Teesta waters for Bangladesh, and rejected Mamata Banerjees alternative proposal to share waters from other common rivers. Among others, the BNP secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamirudidn Sircar, Lt Gen Mahbubur Rahman, and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy were present on the occasion.