‘Govt celebrating golden jubilee without people’

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday alleged that the government is celebrating the golden jubilee of independence keeping people and freedom fighters "away".

"The government is celebrating the golden jubilee without people as it has become isolated from them. The freedom fighters have no place in the government's celebration programmes. Even political parties have no presence there," he said.

The BNP leader said only foreign guests are coming to Bangladesh to celebrate the golden jubilee and they are being told and shown that the country is on the crest of development.

Fakhrul made the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting BNP joint secretary general Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel at a hospital in the capital.

Sohel has been receiving treatment at the hospital as he was injured during a clash allegedly with law enforcers in front of Jatiya Press Club on February 28.

Fakhrul said their party must welcome the foreign friends and heads of governments of five countries to the celebrations.

But he voiced anger as the government has "restricted" them from holding programmes the party has taken to celebrate the golden jubilee of independence on the "pretext of foreign guests' presence".

"People's movement is being obstructed," he alleged.

The BNP leader also questioned the purpose of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Bangladesh.

Modi is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on March 26 to attend the twin celebrations of Mujib Borsho and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence.

He will also visit Bangabandhu Memorial in Tungipara, Matua community in Kashiani, and a temple in Satkhira on March 27 before holding a bilateral meeting with Hasina.

Fakhrul said their party has long been saying the unsettled issues, including a fair share of the water of common rivers and border killing, should be resolved to improve further the bilateral ties with India.

"It should also be made clear to people what we're gaining from increasing the connectivity," he said.

The BNP leader said their party thinks border killings should be stopped immediately as it is an inhumane act. "The government cannot solve this problem though it says it has a very strong friendship with India," he added.

He alleged that the government has given India the share of water of Feni river unilaterally, though it has failed to sign any deal over the sharing of water of Teesta river.

"A bridge is also being built for connectivity. But there's no solution to our basic problems," he added.

Fakhrul said their party still hopes that the government will solve the problems of the country's millions of people by presenting their demands in the "right" way.