Indo-Bangla ties should be based on mutual respect: Fakhrul

FE REPORT

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Monday India-Bangladesh relationship should be based on mutual respect.

"India wants to keep its hegemony in the region. The India-Bangladesh relationship should be based on mutual respect," he mentioned.

Mr Fakhrul made the view while talking to the media after offering doa and placing wreaths on BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman's grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital, marking the 46th founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal.

"Rules of law and democracy must be established to enjoy the benefits of just achieved independence (ousting Sheikh Hasina)," he said.

"What's reforms the interim government wants to do should let the people to know that," he said.

He reiterated his call that the interim government should arrange national election within a logical time after completing reforms.

Meanwhile, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser Zainul Abdin Farroque said on Monday that the fallen autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League men started hatching conspiracy against the country and the victory.

"They (AL men) started hatching conspiracy against the country and the just-achieved victory of the student-people movement against fascist Sheikh Hasina," he added.

Farroque demanded that the collaborators of Sheikh Hasina and the persons involved with market syndicates should be identified.

He came with the demand while addressing a sit-in programme organised by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Motorchalok Dal in front of the National Press Club in the capital.

"We call upon the interim government to take measures so that the defeated forces (Sheikh Hasina and her followers) could not exploit Bangladeshi people again," he said.

About the recent comments on Bangladesh made by Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh, he said, "The people of the country will not accept comments against Bangladesh."

"This interim government is the outcome of student movement. There is no scope to make comments against this government," he said.

"The collaborators are still at different government organisations. How they remain there. Take action against them (collaborators)," he continued.

BNP religious affairs secretary Rafiqul Islam Jaman and founder president of Jatiyatabadi Motorchalok Dal Selim Reza Babu were present, among others.

UNB adds: The leaders of BNP and all its associate bodies have been asked to avoid all sorts of motorcade during their organisational visits considering that it causes public sufferings.

BNP issued this instruction Monday in a notice signed by its senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

"The leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP, and its all affiliated and associate bodies will have to avoid all sorts of motorcades through motorcycles, cars or other vehicles while traveling for the purpose of organizational works in any subordinate unit of the party," said BNP.

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