Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday urged the government to explain why there has been a sudden rise in raid on militant dens as people think that it might be an effort to shift people’s focus to a different direction from the Prime Ministers’ upcoming India visit.

“When the Prime Minister claimed earlier that her government eliminated militancy, how militant dens could be found now one after another. We want to know the real reason behind it,” said BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.

Speaking at a discussion, he further said, “People have started discussing whether the Prime Minister is carrying out the incidents ahead of her India visit. They’re now suspicious.”

Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal arranged the programme at Kachi-Kachar Bhaban auditorium in the city, marking the Independence Day.

Mosharraf feared that Bangladesh is going to be a victim of international politics as there is a weak government in power here. “We don’t want to see Bangladesh as a war field of international politics. We want to live independently as we attained the independence at the cost of blood of lakhs of people.”  

The BNP leader said the government created a scope for the emergence of militancy in the country by snatching democracy and people’s rights, including the right of expression.

About the Prime Minister’s India tour, he said though there are widespread speculations about the signing a defence deal or MoU with India, the Prime Minister is yet to tell people why the country needs to sign it.

“Water is the main issue for us to discuss. The government couldn’t yet ensure the country’s fare share of Teesta water by signing any deal with India due to its subservient foreign policy,” Mosharraf observed.

Turning to the election issue, he said the government is planning to hold a lopsided election like the January-5 one as it knows it very well people will cast votes for BNP if it joins the polls.