'No bad deal with India'
Ruling Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said the government would not seal any deal with India if that goes against Bangladesh's interest.
"We maintain a positive relationship with India. But if we sign any deal with them, it will be for our national interest," he told a rally of Sramik League in the capital's Bangabandhu Avenue.
"I am telling you [people] clearly that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cannot sign any deal with India [which goes] against Bangladesh's national interests," he said.
On March 5, Indian daily Hindustan Times reported that India and Bangladesh are in discussion to ink a comprehensive defence pact during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in April.
Since then, BNP leaders almost every day have been claiming that the deals lined up for Hasina's signature "under the lure of the Teesta water agreement" would go against Bangladesh's sovereignty.
There is much talk over the visit which was rescheduled last year.
Obaidul, also the minister for road, transport and bridges, said, "BNP is speaking in favour of India to come to power...When BNP is not in power, they fear India. We neither favour India nor fear it."
Describing India as "a friend in need", he said the friendship between the two countries would remain for the sake of Bangladesh. "If the people do not want relations with India, it will not exist," he added.
Obaidul said BNP leaders were claiming that they would not participate in the national polls while Sheikh Hasina was in power, but the party was secretly preparing for the polls.
The AL spokesperson also came down heavily on the recent transport strike saying that those who keep people hostage can never be friends of people.
Sramik League President Sukkur Mahmud presided over the rally that was also addressed by AL leaders Jahangir Kabir Nanak, AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Habibur Rahman Siraj, among others.
MEETING OF 14-PARTY
Members of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance yesterday decided to support AL-backed candidates Anjum Sultana Shima in the Comilla City Corporation polls and Joya Sengupta, wife of recently deceased senior leader Suranjit Sengupta, in the Sunamganj-2 by-polls.
The decision came at a meeting of the alliance in the AL president's Dhanmondi office, presided over by Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal General Secretary Shirin Akter.
Shirin assured AL leaders that a member of her party, who was scheduled to contest in the Sunamganj by-polls, would withdraw candidature.
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