May 22, 2013 | 07:45 AM (BD Time)

22 May, 2013 Wednesday

Breaking News:

Speakers tell roundtable

Weak foreign policy isolates Dhaka

Staff Reporter
Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin on Saturday advised   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to read newspapers to know the real picture of the country as her ministers and advisers do not tell her the truth.

He also condemned foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni and Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Gawhar Rizvi for violating human rights by sending back Rohingya refugees.

Abdin made the remarks while addressing roundtable titled 'Foreign policy: Whither Bangladesh?' organized by Free Thinkers Forum (FTF) at the National Press Club.

It was addressed, among others, by Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Editor of The New Nation, Dr Mustafizur Rahman, Chairman of Institute of Development Strategy, Abu Naser Mohammad Rahmatullah, Chairman of Free Thinkers Forum while   Jahangir Alam Chowdhury in the chair.

He said that the foreign minister can not stop the smuggling of  phensedyl  in huge quantity from the neighbouring country, even she did not show any sympathy to resolve the Rohingya issue.

Criticizing Home Minister Sahara Khatun, the Opposition Chief Whip said it is shame that the minister has failed to trace out BNP leader Elias Ali.

Turning to India, he said "We thank you for helping us during the liberation war in 1971. But don't try to harm our country in the name of assistance."

Mostafa Kamal Majumder called for ending confrontational politics to prefect a good image for the country through foreign policy.

In his speech, Dr Mustafizur Rahman, posed a question as to whether Bangladesh would be able to safeguard its sovereignty by present foreign policy that has isolated Bangladesh from most of its friends.

He criticised the government for giving transit facility to India without getting reciprocal benefit. 

Rahmatullah said that the present foreign policy of the government would destroy the independence and sovereignty of the country.