Dhaka – The BNP on Tuesday called upon the government to disclose all the agreements and memorandum of understandings (MoU) to be signed with India during Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi before her four-day tour.
“We hope that the government will make all the agreements and MoUs that could be singed during the premier’s ensuing India visit public before her visit…The people will not accept signing of any agreement or MoU against the country’s sovereignty, security, public interests and anti-state by ignoring the people,” said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.Speaking at a press conference at party central office at Naya Paltan, he alleged they came to know that the government may sign an agreement or MoU with India on defence issue during the premier’s visit but the people are totally in the dark about their contents.
The BNP leader said the people have the rights to know about the national important issues like the defence but the foreign ministry did not give briefing over the matter and even what he said the unelected parliament did not discuss such agreement or MoU.
“Almost all the democratic countries including India have the norms to consult with major political parties and all concerned before signing such an important agreement or MoU but the Bangladesh government is yet to inform the people anything about it,” he regretted.
Mirza Alamgir also questioned the logic behind signing agreement or MoU with India on defence issue saying that they do not understand as to why Bangladesh should sign an agreement with India on defence when the government claims that the bilateral relations between the two country are now remained at a warm level.
Asked whether the BNP would send any letter to Modi government requesting them not to sign any agreement or MoU, he cannot take such a decision as they do not know about government stand and contents of the said agreement or MoU.
Replying to a question if the BNP would sponsor any programme if the government signs an agreement or MoU with India on defence, he said they would determine their next course of action at party forum after the signing.
The BNP leader said that there are many outstanding issues with India including fair share of waters of common rivers, border trade and commerce.
“Killing of Bangladeshi people illegally by Indian Security Force (BSF) in border areas is not stopped, sharing of waters of 54 common rivers including Teesta is not complete and we cannot achieve our just rights in accordance with Ganges agreement,” he said adding that despite Gangesd agreement was signed in 1996 we are yet to get due share of water in lean season.
Mirza Alamgir also alleged that Bangladesh has taken many positive activities on Indian interest related issues and they are getting their benefits but Bangladeshi business community are talking about some tariff and non-tariff barriers but no satisfactory solution is made so far.
Referring to newspaper report he said under the proposed defence agreement or MoU Bangladesh will be given Tk 50 crore dollar by India and Bangladesh has to purchase arms from India by this and questioned the logic behind purchasing India made arms for Bangladesh’s armed force equipped with modern Chinese arms.
Mirza Alamgir said the BNP wants to see the bilateral relations with India more firm, friendly and confident based on showing respect to mutual equality, dignity and sovereignty.
“We will never allow using Bangladesh’s land to carry out anti-India activities. We also expect that India will be respectful to our integrity, independence and sovereignty,” he said.
He said the BNP’s policy is to take an stand against fundamentalism, terrorism, and all types of international and regional terrorism.
BNP leaders—Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Tariqul Islam, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, among others, were present on the occasion. – Staff Reporter
