Khaleda tells Times of India
BNP chief Khaleda Zia has said the Awami League has a long history of close relations with the Jamaat-e-Islami and other extremist religious groups.
“Our alliance with Jamaat is only an electoral understanding. It is by no means an ideological one,” said the former prime minister in an exclusive interview published by The Times of India on Thursday.
Khaleda was speaking to Jaideep Mazumdar at her office in Dhaka on her expectations of the new government in New Delhi and ties between the two countries.
The BNP will always set its own policies, she said, while replying to a question on whether her alliance with Jamaat will be a hindrance in fostering ties with the BJP, the ruling party of India.
“We will do all that is needed to ensure the welfare of our people in close collaboration with our neighbours and other friends in the international community. Our relations with BJP will be fostered in that light,” she told the newspaper.
To a query on government steps to root out anti-India militant groups from Bangladesh, Khaleda said the Hasina administration is reported to have entered a number of security agreements with India.
However, she said, the people of Bangladesh are unaware of the extent and details of those agreements.
“We are also unaware of the degree to which these have been successful. Recent media reports however abound with reference to arms hauls, bomb blasts, activities of militant and extremist groups and the nexus between drugs, money and arms smuggling.”
Khaleda claimed her party will never tolerate any act of terrorism, militancy or extremism.
“We have acted resolutely against all extremists and terrorist groups by clamping down on them, arresting them and bringing them before law. We also remain firm that we shall never allow our territory to be used by anyone for purposes inimical to the interest of India.”
Khaleda alleged that there is a concerted campaign to create an impression that BNP is not friendly towards India. She claimed this is “far from truth”.
“The main success of the BNP foreign policy lies in the fact that we have been able to ensure friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all countries,” she said, asked about the “common perception” in India that the Awami League is friendly towards India while BNP is not.
“Our relations with India are based on the principles of mutual benefit and respect. During my interactions with successive Indian leaders over the years, I have been able to convey to them how we can work together to strengthen our relations in all fields and that it be pursued keeping in mind the interest of our people.
“I got the impression that our points of view were well-received.”
Source: The Daily Star
