Criticism of Sheikh Hasina’s Visit to India: BNP Demands Transparency on Agreements

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir criticized the government's recent agreements with India, claiming they extend the Awami League's illegal hold on power. Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office, he labeled the MoU between India and Bangladesh as part of a series of "slave contracts" without a public mandate.

BNP Criticizes Bangladesh-India Agreements as Threats to Sovereignty

Fakhrul demanded that all agreements, including those from the recent visit, be made public, asserting that they threaten national sovereignty and security. He argued that providing corridors for India's railway connectivity compromises Bangladesh's sovereignty.

Recalling the 1972 agreement with India, Fakhrul warned that recent deals could make Bangladesh a strategic "buffer state" in regional geopolitics, increasing its involvement in regional rivalries. He suggested that the seven newly signed MoUs, focused on northern Bangladesh, are part of a plan to bypass strategic areas for India's military and civilian transport.

Fakhrul criticized the portrayal of Bangladesh-India relations as reaching "unique heights," claiming that the benefits for Bangladeshis are negligible. He highlighted the risks of granting transit corridors unilaterally, stating that Bangladesh's interests have been overlooked. He also pointed out significant remittance outflows to India, both legal and illegal.

Concluding, Fakhrul reiterated that Sheikh Hasina's government is unelected and urged the public to recognize the implications of these agreements.