Resolve outstanding issues with India first, BNP asks PM
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday asked prime minister Sheikh Hasina to resolve the major outstanding problems with India during her tour as the government claims the ties between the two countries are now at the highest level.
"Getting the due shares of waters of Teesta and of other common rivers is not only the Bangladesh's primary outstanding problem with India. Killing of Bangladeshi citizens along the border, tariff, non-tariff and other trade barriers are also among its main problems with India. These problems should be resolved," said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
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.
If the problems are not resolved, he warned, neither the defence deal nor defence MoU with India will be acceptable to the people of Bangladesh.
The BNP leader asked why the government is willing to sign the defence deal with India since it claims Bangladesh-India ties are now at its peak. "BNP doesn't think there's any necessity of signing such deal or MoU. People won't accept any agreement that goes against the country's independence and sovereignty."
Sheikh Hasina went to New Delhi on Friday on a four-day official tour when a host of bilateral deals are expected to be signed between the two neighbouring countries.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and other high officials welcomed Hasina 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 also said the people and the BNP expect a role of India and the democratic world in making democracy effective and restoring people's basic and voting rights in Bangladesh.
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