Govt’s ties with India one-sided, says BNP

Senior Correspondent: BNP on Thursday alleged that the government has failed to make any progress on the much-sought Teesta water-sharing deal over the last eight years as its relations with India are unilateral ones.

“Awami League has been talking about signing the Teesta deal over the last eight years.  Sheikh Hasina couldn’t bring even a bucket of water from India despite having very friendly ties with it,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said the current government has been ‘unilaterally’ giving India everything at its will over the years, but it could not realise people’s fair share of water. “It’s a one-way and unilateral love with India, not a two-way one.  A unilateral love is very difficult as it only takes many things instead of giving anything.”

The BNP leader said the Prime Minister is going to India but the Teesta water-sharing issue is not there in agenda of discussion to be held during her tour.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here for Kolkata on Friday morning to attend Visva Bharati Convocation Ceremony as the Guest of Honour and receive Degree of Doctor of Literature at Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol.

At a press conference ahead her tour, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Wednesday indicated that there is no progress over Teesta water-sharing deal yet saying that the purpose of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Kolkata visit is something different.

Rizvi said the current government is fulfilling India’s demands without getting anything from it only to hang into power.

He also said the Prime Minister is very good when it comes to deceiving people.

The BNP leader further alleged that the government is now carrying out extrajudicial killings in the name of a drive against narcotics with a hidden agenda of eliminating opposition leaders and activists.

He said Jagannath University unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal former president Faisal Ahmed Sajal remained missing since he was picked up by law enforcers two days back.

Rizvi demanded the government immediately trace Sajal and return him to his family safely.

 

risingbd/Dhaka/May 24, 2018/Reza/A K Azad