Govt signed deals to ‘cling on to power’

Senior BNP leaders yesterday alleged that the government recently signed “anti-state” deals with India only to hold onto power by appeasing the neighbouring country.

Speaking at a protest rally in front of the BNP headquarters in the city’s Nayapaltan, they also urged the people to wage a united movement for what they said was 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 water from the Feni river, use of Chattogram and Mongla ports, supplying LPG and installation of a coastal surveillance system are against our national interests,” said BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

He said the government signed the deals due to its “subservient foreign policy and the policy of appeasing India”.

“The main motive behind signing of such deals is to cling to power by force...this regime has sacrificed our interests only to stay in power,” Mosharraf said.

The rally was organised as part of the BNP’s two-day programme protesting the murder of Abrar and demanding cancellation of the deals.

Though the BNP was denied permission by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, several thousand party leaders and activists joined the rally, which ended peacefully.

Mosharraf said as citizens of the country, they have the right to register their protest against the “anti-nation” deals. He said signing of the agreements was a move to “establish imperialism in Bangladesh”.

The BNP leader said Abrar was killed by Chhatra League men as he stood in favour of the country and its people and sovereignty through a Facebook status.

Moudud Ahmed, another member of the BNP standing committee, alleged that the current government has plunged into corruption. “I think the fall of the current government is a matter of time now. People cannot tolerate such a regime for a long time.”

Protesting Abrar murder, he said Chhatra League, the pro-Awami League student front, has set up torture cells at halls and hostels of all the educational institutions across the country.

Referring to the PM’s comment that she didn’t sacrifice the country’s interests, the former law minister said, “People are not fools. They know you have sold the country’s sovereignty. But you could not bring anything for the country’s people in return.”

Mirza Abbas, member of the BNP standing committee, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina “gave India everything” through the bilateral deals without bringing anything for the country’s people.

Mentionable, Bangladesh and India signed seven bilateral documents in New Deli on October 5 during Hasina’s four-day official visit to the neighbouring country.