Govt 'betrayed country, people'

The BNP yesterday alleged that the government “betrayed the country and its people” by signing two defence MoUs with India ignoring public opinion.

“We thought the prime minister wouldn't be inking any defence deal or MoU. According to media reports, she [PM] signed two MoUs on defence cooperation among the 22 deals, keeping the country's people in the dark,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

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He was speaking at an emergency press conference at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office, reports UNB.

The government “weakened the country's security” by signing the defence MoUs, he said.

“Now our defence system has been opened to India. Our independence, existence and sovereignty have been put at stake by signing the defence MoUs. We strongly denounce and protest the move.”

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said the PM failed to address the country's important issues, including the Teesta water sharing issue, during her tour of India.

Addressing a programme at his Thakurgaon village home, he said people would not accept any treaty that would go against the country's independence and sovereignty.

Important issues like sharing of water of 54 common rivers and stopping border killings did not come up for discussion between the two PMs, he added.

Speaking at another programme in the capital, senior BNP leader Moudud Ahmed demanded the government make public all the deals and MoUs signed with India.

Bangladesh and India yesterday inked 22 documents, including deals and memoranda of understanding (MoUs), on a host of issues, including economy, defence cooperation, power and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Rizvi said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inked the defence MoUs to “protect India's interests and appease the country as she has been staying in power by force with its help”.

He said the Teesta water sharing deal was not signed as the government could not strongly bargain with India for it.

'MAKE DEALS PUBLIC'

BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed has said the country's people have the right to know the terms and conditions of the deals and MoUs signed with India.

“We demand the government make public all the deals,” he said.

He warned that the people would not accept any anti-state deal or MoU and the BNP would also oppose it.

National People's Party, a component of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, organised the discussion on the polls-time government and militancy at the Jatiya Press Club.

“We've heard that India would provide Bangladesh with $500m mainly for purchasing war materials from India under the defence MoU. As the money would be given as supplier's credit, we'll have to procure everything without floating any tender. Therefore, we must have to accept whatever price India quotes for its materials,” he observed.

He suggested the government should forge a national unity with all political parties and people from all walks of life to fight militancy by identifying it as a national problem.

Moudud called upon the government to take steps for holding the next general election in a fair and credible manner through an understanding with political parties.