Dhaka, Oct 12 (UNB) – BNP senior leaders on Saturday alleged that the government has signed ‘anti-state’ deals with India only to hang onto power by appeasing the neighbouring country.

Speaking at a rally, they also urged people to wage a united movement to protect the country’s interests and sovereignty by ensuring the fall of the current government and thus value the blood of slain Buet student Abrar Fahad.

“We think the deals with India on withdrawal of Fen River water, use of Chattogram and Mongla ports and providing LPG and a Coastal Surveillance System are against the national interests,” said BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

He further said, “You (govt) have signed the deals due to your subservient foreign policy and the policy of appeasing India. The main motive behind such deals is to cling to power by force…this regime has sacrificed our interest only to stay in power.”

As part of its two-day programme, BNP arranged the rally in front of its Nayapaltan central office protesting the murder of Buet student Abrar Fahad and demanding the cancellation of ‘anti-state’ deals with India. Though the party was denied permission by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, several thousand party leaders and activists gathered in front of their office and peacefully held the programme.

As the citizens of the country, Mosharraf said they have the right to register their protest against the ‘anti-nation deals’.

Mosharraf said the deals with India are not only against the country its independence and sovereignty, but also a move to establish imperialism in Bangladesh.

He said Abrar was killed by Bangladesh Chhatra League as he took position in favour of the country and its people and sovereignty through a status on Facebook. “You not only killed Abrar, but also buried the interests of the country’s people.”

Stating that the students and the country’s people have burst into protests over the death of the Buet student, the BNP leader said Abrar has initiated a movement for the fall of the current government by sacrificing his blood. “We believe the country’s patriotic people, and students will get united and don’t allow going Abrar’s blood in vain. This regime won’t be able to cling to power anymore.”

BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said the current government has plunged into corruption, and it will not be able to get rid of it. “I think the fall of the current government is now just a matter of some time. People can’t tolerate such a regime for a long time.”

Protesting the murder of Abrar, he said Chhatra League has set up torture cells at halls and hostels in all the educational institutions across the country. “The killing of Abrar has seriously hurt the country’s people.”

Referring to the Prime Minister’s comment that she did not sacrifice the country’s interests, Moudud said, “People are not fools, and they know you’ve sold out the country’s sovereignty going to India. But you couldn’t bring anything for the country’s people in return. This failure will remain as a stigma of the current government in history.”

The BNP leader called upon people to get ready for launching a strong movement against the government. “This government can’t be allowed to stay in power. People will wage a united movement under the leadership of BNP and Khaleda Zia to oust the current regime and restore democracy in the country.”

BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said Sheikh Hasina unilaterally gave India everything through recent bilateral documents without bringing anything for the country’s people.

“As long as the government follows a knee-jerk foreign policy, it won’t be able to realise anything (from India) except sacrificing the country’s interests,” he added.

Dhaka, Oct 11 (UNB) – BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday alleged that meritorious students are becoming killers due to the negative role of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at the educational institutions.

“Chhatra League has now become a cursed organisation … meritorious students are turning into killers due to Chhatra League after getting admitted to an institution like Buet,” he said.

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Rizvi also alleged that the BCL is also setting up torture cells at hostels and halls of educational institutions.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina disowned Chhatra League as Awami League’s front organisation at a press conference on Wednesday, but the leaders of the student body are being made and removed from the Prime Minister’s residence.

Rizvi alleged that the government is using Chhatra League by providing it firearms, machetes, hammers and sticks to suppress dissident. “People still haven’t forgotten the brutal acts of Chhatra League against the general and innocent students during anti-quota and road safety movements.”

He warned the government that the students who have now burst into protest will not accept such unfair acts.

The BNP leader alleged that Prime Minister Hasina, during her visits to India, signed many “anti-state deals” keeping the people in dark.

He demanded the government make public all the deals signed with India over the last decade.

Rizvi said the BNP wants to maintain friendly relations with India based on equal dignity.

He criticised Awami League for expelling its Khulna district unit leader Sheikh Baharul Alam for a Facebook post protesting against the recent bilateral deals with India.

The BNP leader urged the people to protest against the deals with India as Baharul did.

Dhaka, Oct 11 (UNB) – BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed on Friday said the signing of bilateral documents with India regarding the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports and a Coastal Surveillance System is tantamount to selling the country’s sovereignty.

Speaking at a demonstration programme, he also said the day Buet student Abrar Fahad was killed for expressing his opinion in favour of the country should be observed as the ‘Martyr Abrar Day’.

“I think allowing India to uses Chattogram and Mongla ports and providing it a Coastal Surveillance System are tantamount to selling the country’s sovereignty,” the BNP leader said.

He also opposed the MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec water from the Feni River by India for a water supply scheme in Sabroom town, Tripura fearing that people in Bangladesh will suffer in the dry season.

Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting against the murder of Buet student Abrar and demanding the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. 

Moudud accused Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of oppressing the dissidents by setting up torture cells all over the country.

“They (BCL) have torture cells at all student halls and hostels across the country where they repress students belonging to opposition parties or the dissidents. Abrar Fahad died after being tortured for five-hours at room 2011 of Sher-e-Bangla Hall in the same style,” he said.

Abrar, 21, a resident of Buet’s Sher-e-Bangla Hall, was beaten to death early Monday reportedly by some BCL activists of the university unit following his Facebook post opposing some deals with India.

Moudud said the violent acts by BCL have given an impression that there is no government in the country.

“The people don’t want to see the current government in power anymore. They want anarchy to be removed and the rule of law, freedom of press, the independence of the judiciary and peace to be restored,” he observed.

The BNP leader called upon the country’s people to get united to get rid of the current situation.

He said the government is creating a discrimination in enforcing law in the country as Jubo League leader Ismail Chowdhury Samrat was taken to hospital for treatment within two days of his arrest while three-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is not getting proper treatment for a long time.

“She’s been kept in a small cabin of PG Hospital (BSMMU) showing a negligent attitude towards her.”

He said Khaleda Zia must be freed through a united movement of people to restore democracy in the country.

Dhaka, Oct 10 (UNB) – The BNP-led 20-party Alliance will hold a commemorative meeting on slain Buet student Abrar Fahad in the city on Tuesday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the alliance held at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.

BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan announced the programme after the meeting.

He said they will later decide about the venue of the meeting. 

Besides, Nazrul said, the 20-party extended its support to BNP’s public gathering programmes in cities and district towns for Saturday and Sunday demanding the cancellation of ‘anti-state’ deals with India and protesting the killing of Abrar.

He said their meeting strongly condemned and protested the ‘anti-state’ bilateral documents signed with India during the Prime Minister’s recent visit.

Nazrul said the alliance also demanded the government cancel the recent deals with the neighbouring country in the interests of Bangladesh and its people.

He said their meeting also denounced the killing of Abrar and demanded the government ensure exemplary punishment to all the offenders involved with the incident.

Dhaka, Oct 10 (UNB) – President of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Oli Ahmad on Thursday said the government has got defeated diplomatically to India by signing ‘unequal deals’.

“No one of the Awami League government was elected (with people’s votes). In their 10-year rule, they couldn’t bring any (common) river’s water from India as it knows anything can be realised from the Awami League’s weak and subservient regime,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, he further said, “The current government has got repeatedly defeated to India diplomatically. This government has given India everything it needs. They failed to protect the country’s interests due to their greed for power and money.”

Oli, also the convener of the Jatiya Mukti Mancha, urged the country’s people to get united and raise their voices in a peaceful manner to get rid of the country’s current situation.

He strongly condemned the killing of Buet student Abrar Fahad by Chhatra League leaders for protesting the deals signed with India.

The LDP chief alleged that the real offenders involved with the Abrar murder are yet to be arrested.

He alleged that the government gave the Chhatra League ‘arms and illegal money’ to suppress the opposition political parties. 

Oli said a group of teachers are also allowing the students to go astray instead of keeping them on the right path. “It’s a blueprint to destroy our new generation.”

He demanded the government sack the incapable teachers and remove the corrupt vice-chancellors (VCs) from their posts.

The LDP president also wants the government to stop political party-affiliated student politics at the educational institutions.

He questioned as to why the government is not arresting the ministers and ruling party MPs who backed those indulged in casino business.

Oli demanded the government arrest all those involved in the casino business and drug trading.