BNP harmed country thru hostile relationship with India: Quader

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said BNP caused harm to the country by maintaining a hostile relationship with neighbouring India.

“The country had suffered as BNP maintained a hostile relationship with India. We want to see a balanced diplomacy to continue always. Bangladesh will proceed with the balanced diplomacy. The present government doesn’t maintain relations (with any country) by selling the national interest,” he said.

The minister said this at a joint meeting of AL at the party’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue here.

Obaidul Quader said Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia had created hostile relations with India, for which Bangladesh had suffered a lot.

“Bangladesh doesn’t want to go back to the era of any misrule,” he said.

Mentioning that Bangladesh is geographically surrounded by India on all sides except a small portion with Myanmar, he said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has removed the deadlock situation created in terms of diplomatic relations with the neighbouring country. And we can solve problems through discussions. . . We don’t want any hostility.”

The AL general secretary said, “We will solve all problems with India through discussions. Dhaka wants friendly, balanced, and dignitary ties with New Delhi. Many problems, such as enclave and border issues, were solved through discussions.”

Quader said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had raised the issue of the border problem with India at the parliament, adding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working relentlessly to resolve those problems.

About the flood situation in Sylhet, the minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is enquiring the situation regularly.

He urged AL leaders, activists, and public representatives to carry out relief and rescue activities.

On AL’s founding anniversary, Quader said all the achievements of the country have been attained by the Awami League. The AL has a glorious history as it established the rights of mass people, he added.

He declared different programmes taken to mark the founding anniversary of the Awami League.

He said a rally will begin at the Engineers Institution at 3 pm tomorrow and end at Dhanmondi-32.

A cultural function will be held at Rabindra Sarobar on June 22. Party President Sheikh Hasina will place tribute at the portrait of Bangabandhu on Dhanmondi-32 Road at 7 am on June 23, he said.

He said a discussion will be held at Suhrawardy Udyan at 2.30 pm on June 23. Besides, a nationwide tree plantation campaign, ‘Sabuj Dharithri’, will also be inaugurated on the day.

A cultural function will be held at Hatirjheel in the evening on June 24, while a cycle rally will be held on June 28. (BSS)