PM Hasina slams criticism of selling country to India
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‘Those who are talking about selling the country were on the side of Pakistan in 1971’
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that she always protects the nation's interests and would never sell out the country or its interests to anyone.
"Sheikh Hasina does not sell the country. We have made this country independent, it should be remembered. Those who are talking about selling the country were on the side of Pakistan in 1971," the premier said in response to criticism regarding providing a rail transit facility to India.
She made these remarks during a press conference at her official residence Ganabhaban to brief the media on the outcomes of her June 21-22 state visit to India.
The prime minister emphasized that there is no harm in allowing transit between countries.
"I have a question. How are the sales weighted? If something is sold, isn't it measured by weight? Now there are electronic machines. Earlier it was measured on scales. So, what is being sold? And how is the sale?" she questioned.
Recalling India's role in Bangladesh's liberation war, Sheikh Hasina said: "Bangladesh is an independent country. We gained independence by fighting the liberation war. Those who criticize should know that there is only one allied force that stood with us and shed their blood to make this country free. Our freedom fighters got trained there. India is an exception here. They have fought alongside us as allies. But whenever Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted them (Indian soldiers) to return to their country — the then prime minister of India Indira Gandhi immediately agreed and took them back."
Sheikh Hasina criticized her detractors, saying: "Even then, those who say that the country will be sold to India, how can they say this? In fact, those who are saying this, have sold themselves to India. We have seen that whenever military dictators came — Zia, Ershad, Khaleda — they used to speak anti-Indian but sat on India's feet. These are my own experiences."
She questioned the harm in giving transit facilities and said: "The railways which were closed (with India), are slowly being reopened. It is making a huge contribution to the economy. Do we close the door in Bangladesh? Look at Europe, there are no borders. Is one country selling itself to another country in Europe?"
The prime minister reiterated: "Our country is an independent, sovereign country. I have opened all communication systems, and the common people will benefit from it. Trade and commerce will thrive."
Sheikh Hasina visited New Delhi on June 21 for a two-day state visit to India at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
This was the first bilateral visit by any head of government to India after the BJP-led alliance formed its government for the third consecutive term following the Lok Sabha elections.
Source: UNB