BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu has alleged that the previous Awami League government attempted to turn Bangladesh into a “virtual province” of India.
He made the remarks on Saturday while speaking at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to mark Historic Farakka Day. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended the event as chief guest.
Dudu said, “It will be difficult to protect Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty in the future without this government. Because the previous Awami League government under Sheikh Hasina continuously tried to transform Bangladesh into a virtual province of India.”
He paid tribute to Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, describing him as the architect of the Farakka movement. He also remembered BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, saying he had played an important behind-the-scenes role in the movement.
Dudu said concerns over water sharing and national survival had remained central issues since the time of Bhashani. He added that the struggle over water resources had still not ended.
Referring to the Farakka Barrage issue, he alleged that Bangladesh suffered significant damage after then Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman allowed India to experimentally operate the structure without sufficient discussion. He also criticised former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over water-sharing issues during her tenure.
Dudu praised BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, saying he followed the political path of Ziaur Rahman in addressing national water challenges. He also referred to the Padma Bridge project as an example of practical development work.
Expressing optimism, he said he believed the current political leadership would be able to resolve disputes over water sharing and the Ganges issue through negotiations.
“I firmly believe that through negotiations and agreements, the water crisis and the Ganges issue will reach a resolution by December, InshaAllah,” he said.
He called for public support for the current leadership and urged unity behind BNP efforts to resolve the water crisis. “We must strengthen the hands of this government. We must support Tarique Rahman and stand united to resolve the water crisis through the government,” he added.
The event was presided over by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Among the special guests were BNP leaders Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Mizanur Rahman Minu and Ataur Rahman Dhali.
Experts, including water resources specialist Ainun Nishat, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor ABM Obaidul Islam, BUET Professor Md Ataur Rahman and Jahangirnagar University Professor Nahrin Islam Khan also took part in the discussion.
The keynote paper was presented by Dhaka Central University Vice-Chancellor Md Nurul Islam.
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