Maritime boundary verdict a drama, not victory: BNP

The government is staging a ‘drama’ over the maritime boundary victory over India, says the BNP’s acting secretary general.

At a discussion on Friday, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir asked: “How can it be a victory when we lost 6,000 square kilometres of territory?”

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at the Netherlands in the verdict on July 7 awarded Bangladesh 19,467 sq km, or nearly four-fifths of the 25,602 sq km sea area caught up in dispute with India.

The BNP has been saying the verdict established the neighbouring country’s dominance over the Bay of Bengal economic zone.

It also claimed that Bangladesh has also lost 6,000 sq km territory due to this.

Fakhrul on Friday said, “The government has started a drama over the maritime boundary. Even after we lost the South Talpatti island, it is saying they have won.”

This ‘illegal’ government has also lost the people’s support, he said.

Awami League begins one-party rule whenever they come to power, the BNP spokesperson said, adding that the ruling party does not believe in democracy.

Speaking at the discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity, he alleged hundreds and thousands of taka were looted from the share market and bank sector through corruption and partisanship of the ruling party in the last five years.

Fakhrul also urged everyone to unite and join the anti-government movement.