BNP to protest `compromising` treaties with India

Anisur Rahman
Dhaka, Jan 14 (PTI) Rejecting the treaties signed during
Premier Sheikh Hasina's India visit, Bangladesh's main
opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has said
it will launch a series of protests "in and outside
parliament" against the pacts that were made "compromising
national interest".
The Khaleda Zia-led BNP also said it will end its long
abstention from the legislature and its members will protest
the government's policies, including the agreements with
India.
The bilateral agreements include one on allowing India to
use the Chittagong and Mongla seaports and the BNP termed it a
question of "our life and death".
"This is a question of our life and death... BNP is not
taking it lightly and soon our chairperson (Khaleda Zia) will
announce the protest plans," senior BNP leader RA Gani told
newsmen after a meeting of the party's highest policy making
body on Wednesday night.
No official briefing was made following the meeting
chaired by Zia but several BNP standing committee members
later told newsmen that they had decided to wage a tough
campaign "in phases," mobilising public opinion and explaining
the "negative sides" of the treaties.
Meeting insiders said the party also decided to return to
the parliament, ending their seven-month abstention.
"We are trying to wage a movement in and outside of
parliament against the government's activities," BNP lawmaker
Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, told newsmen. (MORE) PTI