Anti-discrimination student movement convener Hasnat Abdullah has alleged that India has used Awami League as a 'weapon' to control Bangladesh for over a century and a half.
He said, India has always seen Bangladesh through the eyes of Awami League. The relationship between the two countries is established not as 'people to people' or 'state to state' but as 'India to Awami League'.
Chief Advisor Dr. Rashtriya Guest House Yamuna on Tuesday evening. He said this in front of reporters after meeting with Muhammad Yunus.
Hasnat Abdullah said, 'We want to say that our people do not have a secure relationship with the people of India. Rather, the Indian government has used the Awami League as a weapon to control Bangladesh for over a century and a half. Our discomfort is in that place.'
He said, 'Recently there has been some tension everywhere. The Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala, India was attacked, the global media is showing that minorities are insecure in Bangladesh due to communal issues, we talked to the Chief Adviser on various issues including rising commodity prices, reform commission. We have tried to inform him of the current situation on the ground.'
Hasnat said that the anti-discrimination student movement has called for the disclosure of the 'unequal agreement' made with the Indian government during the previous Awami League government. They demanded justice for all the killings on the border including Felani and implementation of fair share of water. At the same time, the anti-discrimination student movement said that commercial relations should be based on fairness and dignity.
He said, 'The normal life of people is being disrupted due to the increase in commodity prices due to syndicates. People think that commodity prices should be reined in. I have informed the chief adviser.'
Calling on the Indian government, Hasnat said, 'The relationship with India should be of people with people, state with state. Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims of Bangladesh will fight together on the question of the sovereignty and integrity of Bangladesh. India depended on Awami League for 16 years to create an unfair relationship.'
He also said, 'If you think you can create this kind of unfair relationship again, then you are in error. The current government came through popular uprising. Build a fair relationship with the government through the eyes of the people, not through the eyes of the Awami League. If the relationship is bad for any reason, I will not give up on the question of integrity and sovereignty unilaterally.'
Anti-discrimination student movement member secretary Arif Sohail and spokesperson Abdul Hannan Masood, coordinator Umama Fatema were present.
Abdul Hannan Masud said that the situation of the country and educational institutions has been presented to the chief advisor. He said, 'What do the people of the country think about the government? What should the government do next? How is the administration going? I have presented that picture of the field to the chief adviser.
Regarding national unity, Masud said, the unity that was created around August 5 has not been broken yet. All political parties agree in the interest of the country. All political parties, student organizations will work together for the sake of sovereignty.
He said, 'We have asked the government to take initiative, the anti-discrimination student movement will also take initiative. Dhaka University's Jagannath Hall slapped India in the face by protesting the attack on the Sub-High Commission.
Hannan said, 'There is no communal riot in the country, there is harmony. Hindus and Muslims of the country live together. There is also a place for national unity.'
