If Ganges water does not come, Indian goods, corridors and transit will not either: Nahid Islam
National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has said, 'If water does not come to Bangladesh, Indian goods will not come to Bangladesh either. If water does not come to Bangladesh, there will be no corridor and no transit. If water does not come to Bangladesh's rivers, no Indian channel will run in Bangladesh.'
Nahid Islam made the remarks at a programme at the Krishibid Institution auditorium in the capital on Sunday afternoon. He spoke with the expiry of the Ganges water-sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh, due next December, in view.
The programme, titled 'National Youth Conference 2026', was organised on the occasion of National Youth Day by the NCP's youth organisation, Jatiya Juboshakti. Nahid Islam spoke as chief guest at the conference.
In his chief guest's speech he said, 'I want to recall the history of Maulana Bhashani; he held the historic long march towards Farakka. Inshallah, if something like that happens, we are ready for a long march again.'
On the economy and loans, Nahid Islam said, 'The government is now going from door to door for loans. But no one trusts the government, and no one is giving loans.'
On the Matarbari deep seaport, he said, 'Japan is our friendly country; Japan has invested in Bangladesh in the past too. But what agreements the government is making with Japan over this Matarbari must be made clear before the people.'
He warned that if any attempt is made through this agreement to give India any kind of illegal corridor or transit facility, the people of Bangladesh will resist it.
On constitutional amendment, Nahid Islam said Constitution Amendment Committee chairman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed had sought opinions. He said, 'We have nothing to give as an opinion to Mr Salahuddin. Who is he to seek opinions?'
He said the opposition is being asked to go there for talks, but the talks were completed long before the election. There is nothing new to discuss here; now is the time for implementation.
Nahid Islam demanded that a Constitution Reform Council be formed immediately and the constitution be reformed in line with the referendum verdict. He warned that otherwise the people of Bangladesh and the opposition would not accept it.
On the workers' ongoing movement, Nahid said, 'Workers are protesting for a fair wage. The government has raised the pay and allowances of government employees, but the pay of workers and private-sector employees has not risen. We do not accept this discrimination. A fair wage for workers must be fixed immediately.'
NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain and senior joint convener Nasiruddin Patwary were special guests at the conference. Juboshakti convener Tariqul Islam chaired it, and member secretary Farhad Sohel conducted it.
