Jamaat warns govt of security threat

Jamaat central executive council meeting yesterday cautioned the government against giving corridor to India under the transit agreement that will jeopardize national security and interest.
The warning came ahead of Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Dhaka on Monday when the transit agreement is set to sign between the two countries.
“It's not a mere transit. India wants corridor (to its eastern states) in the name of transit agreement. Providing the corridor will seriously threaten the national security,” the meeting observed venting deep concern at the hasty move of the Awami League government.
The Jamaat leaders at the meeting said taking advantage of the corridor, the Indian government would send military convoys to the Seven Sisters on the east where secessionist movement is gaining ground. In that case, secessionist groups would launch attack on Bangladesh leading to the security threat.
The meeting also said the issue of corridor in the name of transit could not be linked merely with economy. It is linked with the security of the nation.
Pointing to the past records of Indian attitude towards Bangladesh, the meeting said India in 1997 during the Awami League regime, had agreed to give Bangladesh transit facility to Nepal. But the agreement had been cancelled within a week raising the plea of its security.
Besides, India has not yet given the Tin Bigha corridor under the 1974 Indira-Mujib agreement. It raised barbed wire fencing along the border taking Bangladesh an enemy, refused exploration of oil-gas within the Bangladesh maritime territory and forcibly occupied South Talpatty Island.
All this has raised genuine doubt in the minds of the people about the sincerity of India, the meeting added.