PM trashes post-’75 rulers for their inaction about maritime boundary

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Sunday blasted the post-75 rulers for their inaction about the maritime boundary, saying that Bangladesh could have established its rights in the continental shelf had they taken initiative, reports BSS.

"Those who ruled the country for 21 years after the August 15 massacre in 1975 did not raise any claim about Bangladesh's rights in the sea. Bangladesh could have established its just rights in the continental shelf had they taken initiative," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also said Bangladesh would have lost its rights in the sea, had the Awami League (AL) government not lodged its claim with the international tribunal.

The PM said this while addressing officials of the Posts and Telecommunica-tions and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Ministry during her visit to the ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat in the city Sunday.

Posts and Telecommu-nications and ICT Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui and State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak also spoke on the occasion.

Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications Division Abu Bakar Siddique, Secretary of ICT Division Nazrul Islam Khan and PM's Press Secretary AKM Shamim Chowdhury were present on the occasion.

Highlighting the background of Bangladesh's maritime victory against Myanmar and India, the PM said it was not an easy task to win against the two neighbours by filing cases with the international court.

"India and Myanmar are our two friendly neighbours. So it was not an easy task to win against them by lodging cases with the international courts," she said.