FROM PARLIAMENT: Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury on Wednesday said the diplomatic impoliteness of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was internationally proved.

The agriculture minister made this comment while addressing the parliament in budget session chaired by Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on point of order.

Indicating BNP’s request for meeting during the visit of Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, she said Khaleda invited Indian President Pranab Mukharjee during his Bangladesh visit. But they did not meet him when Pranab visited Bangladesh due to hartal called by Jammat.

The incident proved BNP leaders diplomatic indecency and disrespect, she added.

“BNP chairperson was dying to meet Indian minister as she (Khaleda) went to the hotel to meet her (Sushma). Later, they accused Awami League for creating so called obstruction, she told the House. 

She said AL knows how to respect the friend and realizes one’s right. She hoped that the bilateral pending issues would be solved through the discussion with the newly elected Indian government.

Criticizing BNP the minister said former president Ziaur Rahman agreed to receive 34 thousands cusec water from India through the river Ganga, but earlier father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman managed to bring 44 thousands cusec water.

Referring to the historic ‘Farakka Long March’ in 1976 towards the Farakka Barrage established on the Indian part of the river Ganga, the minister said that the Long March led by Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani created huge criticism regarding the expenditure of money by the then government.

Pointing to Khaleda Zia, the minister further said that “You were busy with corruption and still now busy with this. You should not say that the pending issues with India are not solved because of AL’s failure”.

BDST: 1720 HRS, JUL 02, 2014