Khaleda warns of street agitation if PM sacrifices country's interest
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Khaleda Zia Friday declared that the Prime Minister would be greeted with garlands at the airport if she could protect Bangladesh's interest during her upcoming India tour, else she would find all her paths strewn with thorns, reports UNB.
Addressing a student rally at Paltan Maidan marking the 31st founding anniversary of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), she urged her key political opponent not to consent to the Tipaimukh Dam and corridor to India in the name of the Asian Highway, to resolve the maritime boundary issue and halt killing of Bangladeshis by Indian Border Security Force (BSF).
"If you (PM) return empty handed from New Delhi by sacrificing the country's interest, we will be compelled to take to the streets," Khaleda, the chairperson of BNP, cautioned Hasina amidst cheers from her student followers.
"This government is not running the country; it is being run from some other places," the former Prime Minister said, citing deployment of defence personnel at a foreign High Commission in Dhaka in the name of security.
The foreign ministry and the home ministry were saying that they did not know anything about it, she said, adding, "It proves the present government is not running the country."
The BNP chief said the country's independence, sovereignty and security was at stake.
Khaleda said her party assured the government of cooperation in resolving problems created by the past military-controlled caretaker government as well as in fulfilling the government's election pledges.
In the last one year, she said, her party did not go for movement and there was no hartal, blockade, torch procession, but the government had completely failed to deliver and proved its incompetence.
She alleged that the first one year of the present government was marked by killing, terrorism, tender manipulation and price-hike of essentials.
The BNP chairperson urged the government to resolve the standoff in parliament and take correct and courageous decisions on the Tipaimukh Dam and the Asian Highway.
"Scrap all decisions or assurances (given to India) against national interests… Uphold national interest with courage. We'll extend cooperation," she said.
The opposition leader further alleged that the Awami League-led government was busy in fulfilling pledges given to its foreign masters instead of meeting the pledges given to the people.
Addressing a student rally at Paltan Maidan marking the 31st founding anniversary of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), she urged her key political opponent not to consent to the Tipaimukh Dam and corridor to India in the name of the Asian Highway, to resolve the maritime boundary issue and halt killing of Bangladeshis by Indian Border Security Force (BSF).
"If you (PM) return empty handed from New Delhi by sacrificing the country's interest, we will be compelled to take to the streets," Khaleda, the chairperson of BNP, cautioned Hasina amidst cheers from her student followers.
"This government is not running the country; it is being run from some other places," the former Prime Minister said, citing deployment of defence personnel at a foreign High Commission in Dhaka in the name of security.
The foreign ministry and the home ministry were saying that they did not know anything about it, she said, adding, "It proves the present government is not running the country."
The BNP chief said the country's independence, sovereignty and security was at stake.
Khaleda said her party assured the government of cooperation in resolving problems created by the past military-controlled caretaker government as well as in fulfilling the government's election pledges.
In the last one year, she said, her party did not go for movement and there was no hartal, blockade, torch procession, but the government had completely failed to deliver and proved its incompetence.
She alleged that the first one year of the present government was marked by killing, terrorism, tender manipulation and price-hike of essentials.
The BNP chairperson urged the government to resolve the standoff in parliament and take correct and courageous decisions on the Tipaimukh Dam and the Asian Highway.
"Scrap all decisions or assurances (given to India) against national interests… Uphold national interest with courage. We'll extend cooperation," she said.
The opposition leader further alleged that the Awami League-led government was busy in fulfilling pledges given to its foreign masters instead of meeting the pledges given to the people.