India should remember what we’ve given: Hasina

Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that India should remember forever what her government had given to it and she did not seek any kind of return from the neighbouring country.
At a press conference at her official residence Ganabhaban, she also said that none involved in drug dealing would be spared and steps would be taken against authorities if any innocent person fall victim to the ongoing drive against drugs.
At the press conference on her visit to West Bengal of India in May 25-26, she said that all the bilateral issues, including sharing of common rivers, were discussed during her visit.
‘India should remember forever what we have given to it,’ Hasina said replying to a query over an Indian media report that said that she wanted return from India.
‘I don’t seek any return [from India]. I am not in the habit of asking rather I am in the habit of giving,’ she said.
‘We gave it [India] peace,’ the prime minister said, adding that firing and bombing used to take place every day in India during separatist movement and the then government of Bangladesh used to support the separatist movement.
‘We stopped that. We decided that none would be allowed to operate separatist movement using our soil,’ she said.
She, however, said, ‘We always remember India’s helpful role and sacrifice during our Liberation War.’
Replying to a query if she still had confidence on Indian prime minister Narendra Modi over the signing of Teesta water sharing deal during their current tenures, Hasina said that she did not work depending on others. 
‘I am working on how we can solve our water crisis. We want to solve the crisis on our own,’ she said, adding her government is dredging rivers, constructing reservoirs and trying to arrange water during the lean period.
She also criticised the construction of the Teesta Barrage in Lalmonirhat in Bangladesh. ‘Why are we crying for water after constructing the barrage on our own?’
She said that the Joint Rivers Commission was working on the signing of the Teesta deal.
Hasina said that the existing relations between Bangladesh and India had been strengthened further through her recent visit to India.
Replying to another query, the prime minister said that her government had taken a firm stance against drugs as almost all newspaper reported on the menace of drugs. 
‘Whoever the godfathers are, from whichever force they may be, no one is being spared and will be spared,’ she said on the ongoing anti-drug crackdown.
‘When I take up anything, I take it up seriously,’ she said.
She criticised the journalists for highlighting only the killing in reported gunfights in the anti-drug drives instead of the arrest of over 10,000 drug peddlers and abusers.
No innocent person has fallen victim to the ongoing anti-drug drive, she claimed.
‘If any innocent people fall victim to the drive, we will take steps’ she said.
Whenever the police or the Rapid Action Battalion conduct any drive, they often have to face unexpected situation, she said. 
At least 125 people were killed and about 13,000 people were arrested in the ongoing anti-drug drives in the past 16 days till Wednesday. 
In response to another query, the prime minister said that the next general election would be held as per constitution.
The election-time government would also be formed as per the constitutional provision, she said.
She appreciated the formation of ‘Jukta Front’, a combine of some political parties like Baikalpadhra led by AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury. She, however, said zero plus zero equalled to zero.
‘We want that the political party like BNP, which was involved with anarchies, cannot come to power again,’ Hasina said.
Celebrities take part in election and politics in many countries, she said replying to a question on speculations that some celebrities would be given nomination by her party in the next general polls.
‘But,’ she said, ‘we will be careful about nomination so that dedicated party people are not deprived.’ 
As a journalist suggested her to appoint lobbyist for the Nobel peace prize, Hasina said that she never appointed and would never appoint any lobbyist for any prize.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net