Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday warned that signing any defence or military treaty with India against the interests of the nation during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming trip to New Delhi would be suicidal and a threat to the country's sovereignty. 

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP and a party spokesman, said: "We have come to know that India has got worried over geo-political security after Bangladesh procured submarines from China and signed various deals with the country. Now India is desperate to sign a defence deal with Bangladesh during the PM's upcoming visit to remove its concerns."

Speaking at a press conference at the Party's Naya Paltan central office, he said his party thinks that if any hasty military or defence deal is signed with India, it will be suicidal for the country and will go against the national interest.

Rizvi said Bangladesh's national security should not depend on India and defence policy could not be shaped according to India's will.

"We want to unequivocally say that the people will not accept it if any anti-sovereign covert deal is signed. The people will resist it at any cost," he said.