Staff Reporter :
The main opposition party-BNP raises alarm over the neighboring India’s plan to construct a railway network through Bangladesh to connect its (India) northeast region with rest part of the country.
“There’s a media report that a railway network will be set up through Bangladesh to connect the India’s northeast region bypassing a 22 km route through the Shiliguri, commonly known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ with the rest of the country,” BNP Senior Joint-Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said while speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office on Tuesday.
Rizvi warned that such a rail network of the neighboring country will weaken the country’s intelligence system.
The BNP leader said the Indian government has taken the initiative to build the rail network to transport Indian military and civilian materials through Bangladesh.
“Such initiative surely are happening with the permission of the prime minister of the ‘dummy government’ of Bangladesh. It is worrying. We strongly protest against such scheme,” the BNP leader said.
“India, the neighboring country is killing Bangladeshis along the borders daily and disregarding human rights and humanity of Bangladeshis, transports military and civilian goods to its northeast through Bangladesh, it will diminish the country’s sovereignty,” he said.
“Through this rail network, the key to Bangladesh’s sovereignty will be given to those who nurture a hostile mindset against the people of Bangladesh. The intelligence system of an independent country (Bangladesh) will also collapse if this plan is implemented,” Rizvi said.
The BNP leader called upon the government to stay away from implementing the initiative, respecting the will of the country’s people and for the sake of the country’s independence and sovereignty.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has signed many secret deals with India to cling to power,” he said.
“Without considering the opinions of the people, Sheikh Hasina is allowing the building of rail tracks within the country only to ensure the protection of her own illegitimate power. Because she became the Prime Minister through a dummy election,” Rizvi said.
“The regime of Sheikh Hasina has begun selling off national independence and sovereignty to hang onto power forcefully. Sheikh Hasina has transformed Bangladesh-India relations into a master-servant relationship,” he said.
“It has to mind that the consequence of giving India all generously will be dire. Sheikh Hasina is teaching the people of Bangladesh to face a precarious situation like the cubs of a helpless fox,” Rizvi said.