Staff Reporter
The proposed South Asia Task Force and giving ‘transit ‘ to India under bilateral agreement would cause an extreme, harm to the country’s independence and sovereignty, said speakers at a roundtable in the city.
They said any move to allow transit to India under bilateral deal would not be welcomed by the people rather it should be a multilateral and regional transit in a comprehensive manner and within the framework of SAARC.
Their observation came at a round table on “Transit and Taskforce: Our Sovereignty ” organised by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Studies at VIP lounge of the Jatiya Press Club. Dr Muhammad Farid Uddin presented a keynote paper in the discussion, which was presided over by former energy adviser Mahmudur Rahman.
Barrister Moudud Ahmed, standing committee member of BNP addressed the roundtable as chief guest.
The function was also addressed, among others, by Abdul Qader Molla, assistant secretary general of Jamaat, Dr Mahbub Ullah, Dr Hasan Mohammad, Raisuddin Arif and Dr Abu Yousuf.
” The proposed transit treaty will jeopardise our sovereignty, national security and economic backbone, creating myriad socio-political problems,” said Barrister Moudud.
Besides the north-east Indian rebels may carry out target-practice exercises within Bangladesh territories in case they take the Indian goods carriers plying our highways and railways to be actually transporting arms and ammunition to quell rebellions in the east.
Terming transit as same as corridor Moudud said,” We should be realistic rather than emotional before finalising any deal on transit with India”.
He said both Bangladesh and India need to build mutual trust and confidence and resolving the existing problems such as demarcation of land and maritime boundaries, transfer of South Talpatti island to Bangladesh and stopping unprovoked firing on Bangladeshi civilians by BSF before reaching an accord on ‘transit’.
“We should be conscious and enlightened our self interest by setting our positive mind set before signing any bilateral deal with India,” he added.
He favoured an expanded multi-national transit network linking China, Myanmar, Iran and central Asia for common benefit of the countries.
Mahmudur Rahman said a section of people are now vocal for giving transit to India for their pretty interest.
Courtesy: nation.ittefaq.com
