No reason to provide land to India for Agartala airport: Fakhrul

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday there is no reason for Bangladesh to provide its land to India to expand Agartala airport, reports UNB.

"There've been media reports about it (India's desire to use Bangladeshi land in Brahmanbaria).

We're closely observing the matter," he said.

Fakhrul came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's grave along with leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal, marking its 39th founding anniversary.

He further said, "Bangladesh government hasn't agreed yet, and there's no question about providing any land. There's no reason to give our land to any other country."

Media reports said India wants a piece of Bangladesh's land in Brahmanbaria to expand the Agartala airport, but the country is yet to make any proposal in this regard.

Fakhrul said his party is not 'optimistic' about getting any positive outcome to resolve the outstanding problems with India from the visit of its External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

"We've been hearing for 10-12 years that the Awami League government's relation with India reached the highest level, but we still didn't get the fair share of water from the Teesta River.

Border killing could not be stopped as no step has been taken to remove the trade deficit with India," he said.

S Jaishankar was scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Monday night to discuss bilateral issues and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to India.

Fakhrul protested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's remark involving Zia with the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in August 15, 1975, saying the ruling party is trying to distort history.

"It's historical fact that Ziaur Rahman in no way was involved in the assassination. Their people (AL leaders) were involved in it (the murder of Bangabandhu). Those who formed the government and parliament after the assassination were involved in it," he observed.

Fakhrul criticised Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun for his accusing BNP of involving in rawhide disaster, and said the minister made such an imprudent comment to hide his failure.

He said the current government has failed to run the country as it lacks people's mandate. "There's no representative of people both in the government and parliament. The unelected ministers have nothing to do except making unguarded remarks."

The BNP leader alleged the government is trying to be the 'master' of people by eliminating politics and political parties. "They want the country to be run by a single party, but people won't let it happen."

He warned that people will surely restore democracy in the country through a movement as they did in the past.

Meanwhile, BNP has chalked out a two-day programme to celebrate its 41st founding anniversary on September 01.

The programmes include rallies, discussions, hoisting party flag and placing wreaths at the grave of party founder Ziaur Rahman.

The programmes were worked out at a joint meeting of the party and its associate bodies at BNP's Nayapaltan central office with its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the chair on Monday.

After the meeting, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programmes.

As per the founding anniversary programmes, the party flag will be hoisted atop its Nayapaltan central office and all other offices of BNP across the country at 6:00 am on September 01.

Besides, the party leaders and activists will place wreaths and offer fateha at the grave of its founder Ziaur Rahman at 10:00 am on the day.

Speaking at the programme, Mirza Fakhrul said they want to bring out rallies across the country, including in the capital, the same day.

He said they will not take out the rallies only to mark their founding anniversary, but also to push for their demand for the 'restoration' of democracy.

Fakhrul said his party will also arrange a discussion in the city on September 02.

He said they will highlight the issue of keeping their chairperson in jail 'unfairly through the programmes of their founding anniversary.

In the 40 years' journey of the party, the BNP leader claimed it has played outstanding contributions to establishing democracy in the country.

He also recalled his party's various steps for socioeconomic development of the country.

On September 01, 1978, Ziaur Rahman formed BNP with a 19-point programme to build a self-reliant Bangladesh. BNP ruled the country for several terms.

BNP's associate all units across the country will mark the day with holding various programmes, including discussions and rallies.