Govt inks ‘anti-state’ deals to appease India: BNP

BNP senior leaders on Saturday alleged that the government has signed ‘anti-state’ deals with India only to hang onto power by appeasing the neighbouring country.

Speaking at a rally, they also urged people to wage a united movement to protect the country’s interests and sovereignty by ensuring the fall of the current government and thus value the blood of slain Buet student Abrar Fahad.

“We think the deals with India on withdrawal of Fen River water, use of Chattogram and Mongla ports and providing LPG and a Coastal Surveillance System are against the national interests,” said BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

He further said, “You (govt) have signed the deals due to your subservient foreign policy and the policy of appeasing India. The main motive behind such deals is to cling to power by force…this regime has sacrificed our interest only to stay in power.”

As part of its two-day programme, BNP arranged the rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office protesting the murder of Buet student Abrar Fahad and demanding the cancellation of ‘anti-state’ deals with India. Though the party was denied permission by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, several thousand party leaders and activists gathered in front of their office and peacefully held the programme.

As the citizens of the country, Mosharraf said they have the right to register their protest against the ‘anti-nation deals’.

Mosharraf said the deals with India are not only against the country its independence and sovereignty, but also a move to establish imperialism in Bangladesh.

He said Abrar was killed by Bangladesh Chhatra League as he took position in favour of the country and its people and sovereignty through a status on Facebook. “You not only killed Abrar, but also buried the interests of the country’s people.”

Stating that the students and the country’s people have burst into protests over the death of the Buet student, the BNP leader said Abrar has initiated a movement for the fall of the current government by sacrificing his blood. “We believe the country’s patriotic people, and students will get united and don’t allow going Abrar’s blood in vain. This regime won’t be able to cling to power anymore.”

BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said the current government has plunged into corruption, and it will not be able to get rid of it. “I think the fall of the current government is now just a matter of some time. People can’t tolerate such a regime for a long time.”

Protesting the murder of Abrar, he said Chhatra League has set up torture cells at halls and hostels in all the educational institutions across the country. “The killing of Abrar has seriously hurt the country’s people.”

Referring to the Prime Minister’s comment that she did not sacrifice the country’s interests, Moudud said, “People are not fools, and they know you’ve sold out the country’s sovereignty going to India. But you couldn’t bring anything for the country’s people in return. This failure will remain as a stigma of the current government in history.”

The BNP leader called upon people to get ready for launching a strong movement against the government. “This government can’t be allowed to stay in power. People will wage a united movement under the leadership of BNP and Khaleda Zia to oust the current regime and restore democracy in the country.”

BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said Sheikh Hasina unilaterally gave India everything through recent bilateral documents without bringing anything for the country’s people.

“As long as the government follows a knee-jerk foreign policy, it won’t be able to realise anything (from India) except sacrificing the country’s interests,” he added.