Staff Reporter :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said she did not return from her India trip empty-handed.
She also said with conviction that the waters from the Tessta River must come towards Bangladesh.
“Nobody could stop water flow towards Bangladesh from the Tessta River,” she told a crowded press conference at her Ganobhaban official residence on her just concluded India visit.
“I did not return empty-handed. I got something,” she said, terming her India visit as successful.
“Many people are talking about Teesta right now but when India constructed a barrage at Gazaldoba point on Teesta River during BNP regime, none could say anything. Even, the then BNP government didn’t raise its voice against the barrage,” she said.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh is facing the consequence of the barrage.
“Since the country’s independence many governments came to power but none could talk about the Teesta. But Awami League is always talking about the issue,” Sheikh Hasina said.
When asked about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s alternative proposal to address the issues, Hasina said, “I have also given her (Mamata) an alternative proposal. I have told her that they could take other rivers’ waters and give us Teesta’s water. The discussion on the issue will continue.”
She said Indian Prime Minister has pledged to sign the agreement. “We are waiting with patience for signing the agreement,” Sheikh Hasina said. On a query on the deals and MoUs between Dhaka and New Delhi, the PM said there is nothing to hide as everything is wide open for the people. “All the deals and MoUs signed with India will be made public in details,” she said.
She said as long as she is in power she does not do politics in her personal interests. “Interests of the country and people as well as dignity of the nation are very important to me,” she said.
On the defence deal, the PM said there is no scope to raise a question over the deal. “I’m also the minister for defence. I can tell you that military equipment will be brought at the will of Bangladesh. No anti-state agreement will be signed as long as I am alive,” she said.
She also urged people not to be frustrated over her India trip where 11 agreements and 24 MoUs were signed upholding the national interest. Sheikh Hasina said all agreements with foreign countries are signed after approval of the cabinet.
“So, these are open documents,” she said.
Responding to a question about her government policy to maintain relations with both India and China, Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu’s ‘Friendship with all, Malice’ to None,’ is the “guiding factor of our foreign policy”. “I’m trying to comply with the policy word by word and establish good relation with every country,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said India and China might have problems in their bilateral relations but Bangladesh would maintain good relation with every country. She ruled out the BNP’s allegation that the country is being sold out to India through her visit
“I am a daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. All will have to understand that I am not a person who can sell out the country to anyone,” she mentioned.
She said Bangladesh needs to have good relations with all countries for its cherished prosperity as quick as possible.
She said the business delegation accompanied her in India found their opportunities and trade partners and as many as 12 MoUs were signed under which huge Indian investment would come to Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina said undoubtedly geographically and demographically Bangladesh is a small country in comparison with India “But dignity of both the countries is equal as far as nation’s sovereignty and independence is concerned”.
Sheikh Hasina said as a victorious nation the present government is making constant efforts to uphold the dignity.
About honouring the soldiers of India who sacrificed their lives during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, she said the event has elevated the position of Bangladesh to a new dignified position as a nation.
UNB adds: The Prime Minister said she also invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Bangladesh in 2018.
She said she called on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhaban while Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid courtesy calls on her at the Rashtrapati Bhaban. Besides, she also met Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari.
The issues discussed in the talks include power and energy, economic and defence sectors, connectivity, Padma-Ganges barrage construction, basin-wise based water resource management, security cooperation, common rivers’ water sharing, connectivity, people-to-people contact, increase of investment, outer space, and promotion of bilateral trade and investments.
Hasina said during the visit, the door of cooperation has opened in many areas like civil nuclear cooperation, science and technology, defence training and cooperation, information technology, satellite and space research alongside ongoing traditional cooperation.
She said the two leaders also agreed to expand mutual cooperation on combating terrorism and militancy in South Asia particularly in their own countries.
In the business event, Sheikh Hasina said, she urged the Indian businessmen and entrepreneurs to bring their businesses and investments to Bangladesh taking full advantage of Bangladesh’s steady economic growth.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Prime Minister’s Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam were present while Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim moderated the press conference.
