Dhaka, Nov 8 (IANS) Bangladesh’s opposition leader Khaleda Zia has demanded that the government scrap all deals, including one on transit, with India.
Zia claimed at a rally Sunday that India would not pay any duty for the transit facilities.
‘Earlier, they (government) said Bangladesh will be Singapore and crores of taka will be earned. But now we hear India will not pay any duty against transit facilities.’
She said she would resist the government’s anti-state activities ‘even if it costs her her life’, the Daily star reported.
Zia, a two-term prime minister, has opposed all deals that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed during her New Delhi visit in January.
These include accords on transit facilities, on trade, and exchange of information on criminals and religious extremists.
‘Giving India transit, corridor, and Chittagong and Mongla ports was not in their (ruling Awami League’s) election manifesto. But this is what they are now busy doing,’ she told the rally organised to mark the ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’.
The day refers to the mutiny by a section of the army 36 years ago that secured the release from prison of Gen. Ziaur Rahman, her husband who went on to become the country’s president (1976-81). He was killed in another military-led putsch in May 1981.
‘We will resist the move to turn Bangladesh into a state of India,’ Zia said, asking the government to restore the country’s dignity by scrapping the deals with India.
