Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday termed ‘irresponsible’ Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s comment that Khaleda Zia took her party to power in 2001 by giving an undertaking to sell gas to India.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also questioned whether Hasina came to power by giving underrating to any country or with the help of Indian intelligence agency RAW in 2014.

“We’ve got surprised with the Prime Minister’s comment. We can’t think how she could make such a big reckless remark. She has openly meant that foreigners have been working here and interfering in change of governments at different times, which cannot be good for the country,” Fakhrul said.

He alleged that Hasina often resorts to lies to make her political gains which contribute to dividing the nation instead of uniting it.

Referring to India’s the then foreign secretary’s Dhaka visit before January-5 polls in 2014, the BNP leader said Sujatha Singh held meetings with major parties and convinced Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad to join the election. “So, the country’s people should think RAW and the Indian government played a big role in that election.”

He also recalled that different countries’ missions and several international organisations here interfered in Bangladesh’s internal politics and created the ground for taking over power by an illegal military-backed government when BNP quit power in 2006. 

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a programme said, ‘When a US company had wanted to sell gas to India just before the national election in 2001, Khaleda Zia took BNP to power through giving an undertaking of selling gas.”

She also alleged that the then agent of RAW and officials of the US embassy also passed time at ‘Hawa Bhaban’ before the 2001 parliamentary election so that the Awami League could be defeated and BNP grab power and thus sell gas.”

Fakhrul strongly protested the PM’s comment involving BNP with RAW, saying her remark is totally false. “There’s a public perception now that outsiders (RAW representatives) used to sit at the Prime Minister’s office itself. We don’t know who they are. As people have such a perception, she should give an explanation about it. ”

The BNP secretary general also described as untrue the Prime Minister’s remark that Khaleda “forgot” to raise the Ganges water issue before the Indian government when she visited the country as the Prime Minister after the 1991 elections.

Justifying his remark, Fakhrul also presented the statements from the Joint Communique issued at that time.

He also claimed whenever Khaleda visited India she talked about water issue, boarder killing and maritime boundary and other outstanding problems with the next door neighbour.