BNP Secretary General Khandaker Dalwar Hossain yesterday demanded a clear statement from the government on the allegation of Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakrabarti at a seminar that a large number of Bangladeshis who enter India every year with valid paper do not come back.

He was addressing as chief guest at a discussion organised by Bangladesh Islamic Party to mark its 30th founding anniversary at the National Press Club in the city yesterday. He said that the freedom and sovereignty of the country is under threat of the multinational aggression and conspiracy and the present government is not ready to face it.

He called upon the people to wage a strong movement against the construction of Tipaimukh dam to save the country from desertification. He regretted that when the people of the country are vocal against the Tipaimukh dam some ministers of the present government were speaking in favour of the dam.

Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, general secretary of Bangladesh Jamaat e Islami and former minister, said that the aim of the government during the emergency period was to eradicate the Islamic politics from the country. The present government is also trying to implement the conspiracy against the Islamic politics, he alleged.

He protested the arrest of three religious veiled women in Pirojpur, torture on them and demanded their immediate release. He emphasised the need for forging national unity and consensus against the construction of Tipaimukh dam by India to protect the country from desertification.

Presided over by President of Islamic party Advocate Abdul Mabin, the discussion was addressed, among others as special guests, by General Secretary of Bangladesh Jamate Islami Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, President of Jatiya Gonotantrik Party Shafiul Alam Prodhan, President of National People's Party (NPP) Sheikh Sawkat Hossain Nilu, President of Nejame Islam Party Advocate Moulana Mohammad Abdur Rakib, Acting General Secretary of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Moulana Abdur Rab Yusufi, former President of Islamic Party Dr Captain (Retd) Abdul Basit, General Secretary of Bangladesh Jatiya Party Abu Naser Mohammad Rahmatullah and General Secretary of Islami Oikya Jote Moulana Abdul Latif Nejami.

Speakers said that the present government is busy to implement the assignment of other countries. A strong movement has to be launched against the government with unity of all opposition parties, they added.

-New Nation