People to people contact a must for stronger ties with India: Quader
Awami League (AL) presidium member Obaidul Quader yesterday stressed the need for strengthening communication at individual level among people of Bangladesh and bordering states of India to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
If “people to people” communication was stronger, the Teesta agreement could have been signed during Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit, he said.
"Encouraging people to people communication should be a major diplomatic strategy of our government," he said.
Quader was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled “Perspective: Politicians' role and duty in current politics” organised by Janatar Prattasha (people's expectation), a social organisation, in the city's Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Deploring the remark by BNP leaders that Manmohan's visit failed to secure any achievement for the country, Quader said the visit is the beginning of success.
The economic framework agreement and duty-free access of 46 Bangladeshi commodities in India will have a significant impact upon the country's economy, he said.
"It will remove trade imbalance between the two countries and expand our trade and commerce," he said. However, he acknowledged that the visit could not fulfil people's expectations.
Referring to the BNP chief's remark that the government signed secret contracts with India, he said, "Please do not make such remarks without any evidence. Irresponsible comments question your responsibility as the opposition party."
Quader brushed away BNP's allegation that former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque delivered the verdict of cancellation of caretaker government system for money.
“He received around Tk 10 lakh from the prime minister's relief fund for medical treatment abroad as per rule,” he said.
He also urged his party men to refrain from talking too much. "Your unrestrained speeches tarnish the image of the party and the government," he said.
Janatar Prattasha Convenor MA Karim chaired the function.
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