Sagar Biswas :The ruling Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] are locked in a tussle over the outcome of recent visit of Indian Premier Narendra Modi to Bangladesh. While the BNP categorically blamed the government for disappointing the nation failing to ink Teesta Water Sharing treaty with India, the AL said it was announced about 15 days before Modi’s visit that there would not be any solution over Teesta this time.BNP on Tuesday harshly criticized the AL-led government for not making any headway to settle the long-standing dispute over sharing of Teesta water. “The whole nation is disappointed. As a nation, we are very much frustrated as Teesta deal was ignored. It is government’s failure,” Asaduzzaman Ripon, International Affairs Secretary of BNP, said in a press briefing at party’s Nayapaltan central office. A total of 22 deals in different sectors, including LBA, connectivity and energy, were signed during the visit. Pointing the issue, Ripon said. “We … the people of country want to know the details of these deals. The government is yet to disclose information. I urge the government to make public all the agreements for transparency and understanding.” About Modi’s visit, the BNP spokesman said, “We can’t evaluate Modi’s visit in brief, as it may create confusion. Before making any comment, we will first review the agreements and Memorandums of Understanding [MoUs] signed between the two countries.” “BNP follows zero tolerance policy towards terrorism and militancy. Of the party leaders and activists, those who are accused in cases in connection with sabotage and violence, will be found innocent if a fair investigation is carried out,” he said.When asked whether complaints to Modi regarding ‘absence of democracy in the country’ were justified or not, Ripon said,it will not cause any harm.The BNP leader, however, hailed the visit of Modi thinking that the visit would open ‘new doors of cooperation’ between the two countries.Meanwhile, the AL has turned down the BNP claim saying that nation has not been disappointed over Teesta issue. “Nation is not disappointed. The person who has been disappointed is Khaleda Zia,” said AL Joint-General Secretary Mahabubul Alam Hanif yesterday. “About 15 days before Modi’s visit, it was announced that there would not be any Teesta treaty this time. But BNP is trying to spread confusion centering the issue…..BNP’s time has been numbered. There is no alternative ahead of BNP to reform the party, excluding Tarique Rahman and Khaleda Zia,” he said. Hanif also claimed that the meeting between BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not ‘fruitful’. “Khaleda Zia made appeals to get an appointment of Indian Premier. She met Modi. Khaleda thought she would raise election issue. But she ultimately realised there will no election before ending of present tenure. And so, they have expressed frustration in the press briefing.”
