Bangladesh opposition cautions Hasina on inking deal with India

Bangladesh’s opposition leader Khaleda Zia today extended cooperation to the government as prime minister Sheikh Hasina embarked on a landmark official visit to India, but warned against inking any deal against "national interest".

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Zia wished success for Hasina’s four-day New Delhi trip, as she asked her to raise issues of crucial national interests, including security matters in talks with her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.

Zia said her party’s policy was to "help the government for the sake of the country", and therefore it expected Hasina to raise issues of national interest boldly".

However, Zia cautioned the prime minister not to sign any treaty for suppression of Indian separatists as "insurgencies by different Indian ethnic groups have become closely linked to our security".

"These are internal matters of India, and it is their business how to tackle the problems – politically or bymilitary means... if she signs a treaty (to extend hands to control Indian insurgents), the security of our own citizens will also be hampered," Zia told reporters yesterday.

The former prime minister said there should be progress towards settling unresolved issues linked to the border, enclaves and maritime boundary.

"People do not believe the Delhi talks will be successful if such serious issues are not included in the agenda, (and) we are dead against submissive and subservient policies," Zia said.