Main opposition BNP alleged that the government has betrayed the country and its people by signing a defence MoU with India ignoring public opinion.

“We’d thought the prime minister wouldn’t ink any defence deal or MoU for the sake of country’s people. As per the media reports, she (PM) has signed two MoUs on defence among the 22 deals and four MoUs keeping the country’s people in the dark,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at an emergency press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, “The defence MoUs have been signed completely ignoring the public opinion. We think the Prime Minister has extremely betrayed the country and its people (by signing the MoUs).”

The BNP leader also alleged that the government has weakened the country’s security by signing the defence MoUs. “Now our defence system has been made open to India. Our independence, existence and sovereignty have been put at stake by signing the defence MoUs. We strongly denounce and protest it.”

Rizvi also alleged that the government has signed the defence MoUs ignoring people as there is a deep-rooted conspiracy against it.

Bangladesh and India today signed 22 documents, including deals and memorandums of understanding (MoUs), covering diverse areas of cooperation, including economic, defence cooperation, power, and peaceful use of nuclear energy, after a one-on-one meeting between Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi, and bilateral talks at the Hyderabad House.

However, the much-sought Teesta water-sharing deal saw no light this time, too.
Rizvi said Hasina inked the defence MoUs to protect India’s interests and appease the country as she has been in power by force with its help.

He said the Teesta deal was not signed as the government could not strongly bargain with India for it thinking the neighbouring country can be unhappy with it.