The government is reviewing 101 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed with India and other countries during the tenure of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s administration, to determine whether any run counter to the country’s interests, National Parliament Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said Friday.
Moni made the comments at a press conference at the National Parliament’s media centre following the third session of the 13th National Parliament, held at 11am Friday.
The chief whip said the government wants to maintain relations with neighbouring India while giving top priority to the country’s interests. Friendship between the two nations will continue, he said, but never at the expense of Bangladesh’s interests.
He said agreements signed with India during the Hasina government are under review, and any provisions found to conflict with the country’s interests would be identified and addressed, with results expected soon. The financial aspects of the agreements are also being examined, he added.
Citing Chattogram port as an example, Moni said the previous government had put arrangements and agreements in place giving priority berthing to vessels from a “friendly country” over Bangladeshi ships when both arrived at the port simultaneously. The current government is trying to move away from many such agreements that run against the national interest, he said.
The chief whip also expressed displeasure that Prime Minister Tareque Rahman had not been invited to the BRICS summit, and voiced dissatisfaction with India for not inviting him as the prime minister of an independent country.