BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said India seeks friendship solely with a ruthless dictator like Sheikh Hasina, rather than with the people of Bangladesh.
Speaking at a discussion, he also strongly condemned Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remarks about hanging Bangladeshi nationals “upside down” along the border.
The BNP leader also said the nation feels both emotional and aggrieved when India humiliates, neglects, and hates Bangladeshis. “It’s particularly upsetting when a prominent Indian minister speaks so audaciously about the people of Bangladesh. They don’t want friendship with us and our people; they want friendship only with a terrible, bloodthirsty dictator like Sheikh Hasina,” he said.
The BNP leader stated that the people of Bangladesh have repeatedly triumphed in democratic movements and achieved liberation through a bloody struggle in 1971, fueled by their strong emotions. “If India considers the people of Bangladesh to be second-class citizens, then our emotions will reach a boiling point,” he warned.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Rural Doctors Association arranged the programme at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), marking its 16th founding anniversary. Some families of those who were subjected to enforced disappearances and killings in movements over the last 15 years were provided with financial assistance at the programme.
Rizvi said Commerce Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, a distinguished economist, said emotional talk is useless regarding hilsa export to India ahead of Durga Puja.
“We have never opposed the export of hilsa fish… Our commerce advisor talked about emotions, but the emotional aspect arises especially when we hear India’s Home Minister saying that anyone from Bangladesh seen at the border will be hung upside down. This certainly evokes strong feelings among us,” he said.
The BNP leader stated that Bangladeshis are deeply emotional about their country and nation. “Hilsa can certainly be exported to India. However, when you (adviser) are discussing this export, the Indian Home Minister is suggesting that Bangladeshis found at the border should be punished. How can I not respond by saying we won’t provide hilsa?”
He said emotions arise when India demeans the Bangladeshi people and treats them like slaves.
Rizvi also mentioned that while Bangladesh imports onions from India, they halt exports and raise tariffs whenever there’s a crisis in their country.
