BNP to protest if Teesta deal delayed: Noman

BNP will go for a protest programme if the much-talked-about Teesta water-sharing deal is not signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s June 6-7 Dhaka visit.

“We expect that the Teesta deal would be signed during Modi’s visit. We will welcome the government if it is done. Otherwise, we will raise our voices,” BNP leader Abdullah Al Noman warned today.

Noman, vice-chairman of BNP, made the warning at National Press Club while addressing a programme marking the 34th death anniversary of the party founder Ziaur Rahman.

Referring to a recently published media report that BNP has become an India oriented political party, Noman said, “BNP is a cosmopolitan political party that upholds people’s interest.”

BNP wants due share of Teesta River water, equal trade facilities and accounts of the transit facilities, he added.

“We have nothing to say if anyone treats BNP’s such stance as anti-Indian politics,” he added.

Earlier on Sunday, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said at a press conference: “There will be no deal on Teesta this time during the coming visit, because we have to take the state [West Bengal] government on board for this.”

Swaraj, however, said the process of taking the state government on board for the Teesta deal was on.

The announcement came just days ahead of the June 6-7 Dhaka visit by the Indian premier.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said she would visit Bangladesh on June 5 and return home the next day after signing the Land Boundary Agreement.