No question of complaining: BNP

The BNP has denied allegations that it had complained to the visiting Indian foreign minister, Sushma Swaraj, about the state of democracy in Bangladesh, saying it only discussed various political issues.

It comes a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina claimed BNP chief Khaleda Zia “cried and complained to foreigners” after failing to get people’s support.

Party’s acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday disclosed the issues discussed in the meeting with Swaraj on Friday.

He said several things like the absence of democracy in Bangladesh and 95 percent people boycotting the Jan 5 polls had come up as statement of fact in the meeting.

“It not complaining,” Fakhrul told reporters at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters. “There’s no question of complaining.”

He hit back saying the ruling Awami League had the “habit of complaining to foreigners”.

“They (the Awami League) complained with various embassies in 2006-07 against then government which led to the establishment of an undemocratic and illegal regime,” Fakhrul said.

He said the BNP was invited by the Indian minister.

“Our leader (Khaleda) discussed how the bilateral issues can be solved. We hope the issues will find a positive solution with the new Indian government,” the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul said his party had never sought India’s intervention in solving internal issues.

“The people of Bangladesh will solve internal problems,” he said, claiming the West had not accepted the Jan 5 polls and the UN, too, called for a quick election.

When asked how he would evaluate Swaraj’s visit, he said they learnt from various newspaper reports that she discussed issues like water-sharing and border killing.

“But we didn’t get anything concrete on them. India gave us assurances and we hope they will be implemented,” said Fakhrul.

He criticised and condemned the prime minister’s various comments saying Hasina was “polluting the political environment” with her vicious talks.

“Those who do not have any morality are lying and running a propaganda campaign only to mislead the people,” the BNP leader said.