Party leaders hope new Indian govt will change its policy towards Bangladesh
BNP is upbeat over Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) landslide victory as the party thinks the new Indian government is unlikely to continue its support to Bangladesh’s current ‘illegal’ regime as done by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
BNP leaders hope that the Norendra Modi-led government will bring change in their foreign policy regarding Bangladesh and will put and end to the India’s relations with any particularly party.
Claiming that historically BJP is more comfortable with BNP than the ruling Awami League, they said the new Indian government will strengthen its ties with BNP and the people of Bangladesh.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was also very quick to greet Modi even before completion of the announcement of the election results, demonstrating her party’s over-enthusiasm about the new development in Indian politics.
“When the entire world was against the lopsided January-5 election, it was only the Indian government, led by Congress, that backed the controversial Bangladesh polls, and they’ve continued their support to the illegal Awami League government formed through voter-less polls. We’re, therefore, happy as the throne of the master (Congress) of this regime has collapsed,” said BNP international affairs secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon.
He said they closely monitored the Indian election as they wanted BJP to come to power for improving Indian’s ties with the people of Bangladesh instead of any particular party.
Accusing the Congress-led government of maintaining its ties only with Awami League, he said though India is the largest democratic country in the world it has legitimatised a undemocratic regime in Bangladesh showing disrespect to the opinions of the country’s 90 percent people.
Ripon hoped that the Modi government will take initiatives for resolving the outstanding problems with Bangladesh based on equality and mutual respect.
In his reaction, BNP spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “We believe India’s new government will try to read the minds of Bangladesh people. They’ll come forward and take steps to resolve various unresolved (bilateral) issues like putting an end to border killings and due share of the common rivers, including the Teesta.”
BNP standing committee member Lt Gen Mahbubur Rahman said they are happy over the overwhelming victory of BJP as it was a triumph of democracy and democracy-loving people.
He said though the Congress government has backed the ‘illegal and undemocratic’ current government in Bangladesh, the BJP government unlikely to do so. “Modai is a practical man. He is surely aware about the current Bangladesh government and expectations and opinions of its people. So, he’ll work out his governments’ policy towards Bangladesh based on reality.”
He also hoped that Modi government will behave with its neighbour as an ideal neighbour and will take sincere efforts in resolving long-pending problems like the water sharing of common rivers and border killing.
BNP chairpersons’ adviser Shamsuzzaman Dudu said though Congress has ‘helped’ annihilate democracy in Bangladesh by backing an ‘illegal’ government it has accepted the victory of democracy in India. “Congress has faced the miserable defeat for killing democracy in Bangladesh.”
Claiming that the people of India have rejected the policy of Congress by rejecting it in the polls, Dudu said the new Indian government will change the policy of the previous government and will want to see a democratic government with people’s mandate in Bangladesh like all other democratic countries.
Party insiders said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to visit India after the Modi-led government is formed to have its blessing for creating pressure on the current regime for holding a fresh inclusive national election.
Khaleda also assigned her two advisers and some senior leaders to fix the dented ties with the neighbouring country.
Party insiders said influential BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has a good relation with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia who has a bright prospect to have an important responsibility of the new government.
They said BNP will try to get close to the Modi government through Sushma and bring a change in the policy towards the current Awami League government.
Source: UNB Connect
