BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said their party wants Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resolve the main outstanding problems with India during her tour as the government claims the ties between the two countries are now at the highest level, reports UNB. He came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave along with party leaders and activists marking the release of its joint secretary general Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel from jail. “Bangladesh’s main outstanding problem is not only getting the due share of water of Teesta and other common rivers. Killing of Bangladeshi citizens along the border and tariff, non-tariff and other barriers to trade are also among its main problems with India. These problems should be resolved,” Fakhrul said.
If the problems are not removed, he warned, neither the defence deal nor defence MoU with India will be acceptable to the people of Bangladesh.
The BNP leader questioned why the government is willing to sign the defence deal with India since it claims Bangladesh-India ties are now at the highest peak. “BNP doesn’t think there’s any necessity of signing the deal or MoU. People won’t accept any agreement that goes against the country’s independence and sovereignty.”
Sheikh Hasina went to New Delhi yesterday on a four-day official visit when a host of bilateral deals are expected to be signed between Bangladesh and India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high officials welcomed her as she reached Air Force Station, Palam, New Delhi at 12:05 pm (local time). There are possibilities to sign 33 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) or agreements with India on various issues.
Fakhrul said the country’s people and BNP expect a role of India and the democratic world in making democracy effective and restoring people’s basic and voting rights in Bangladesh.