Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, on Wednesday said that the government led by Awami League President Sheikh Hasina wants friendship with India as the neighbouring country has given us what we wanted.
“BNP has built a wall of mistrust and no-confidence between Bangladesh and India. The present government has broken the wall. India has given us what we wanted. So, Sheikh Hasina wants freidnship with the country,” Obaidul said in response to a query while attending the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporter’s Forum (BSRF) Dialogue held in the Secretariat’s Media Centre.
BSRF, an organization of the reporters working to cover the Secretariat’s news, organized the event on the issues of Road Transport and Bridges Ministry and political issues of ruling Awami League.
BSRF President Tapan Biswas presided over the dialogue while its General Secretary Masudul Haque moderated.
In response to a query about the government’s decision on remaining AK Abdul Momen as Foreign Minister, Obaidul Quader, one of the top policymakers of the government, said, “It’s under the jurisdiction of Prime Minister whether AK Abdul Momen will remain as Foreign Minister or not.”
He said that the foreign minister is also a human being and can also fall sick.
“Now, I have no authority to say whether he will remain as a minister or not. He said something few days ago which were slip of tongue. It’s the PM’s jurisdiction to take decision on his ministership,” he added.
Besides, it’s not compulsory that the Foreign Minister will accompany the Prime Minister in every state visit, said Quader, questioning, “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited Bangladesh. Was (their) foreign minister with him?”
Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Abdul Momen did not accompany the Prime Minister during her India visit citing “illness”.
At the invitation of Indian PM Narendra Modi, Bangladesh PM Hasina is on a state visit to New Delhi from September 5 to 8. Hasina, now in New Delhi, is visiting India after three years.
In response to another query regarding BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s statement claiming that Sheikh Hasina couldn’t bring anything from India during her previous visits to the country, Obaidul Quader said, “We brought lot of things from India what we needed. They have exchanged the enclaves relieving people there from sufferings. We have won the maritime boundaries. Agreement signed to share the water of Kushiyara river and treaty on sharing Teesta water would also be signed.”
“The people across the globe have been suffering for various crises. During the period, India will give us what we need to save the country’s people. They are committed on the issue,” Quader added.
He said, “Sheikh Hasina hasn’t forgotten to discuss about the issue of Teesta treaty. India hasn’t also regretted. There are some problems with West Bengal on Teesta issue. The issues would be resolved through negotiation. Hope, it would be solved in future. I think it’s enough what we have already got.”
