Dhaka, Oct 10: Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia tonight called for a mutually acceptable solution to the controversy on India's river-inter-linking project, which has raised hackles in Dhaka. In her address to the nation on the completion of two years of her four-party alliance government, Zia denounced the opposition for its non-cooperation and underscored the need for a national consensus on democratic practices, development issues, defence and foreign policy.

Referring to the recently concluded ministerial level joint rivers commission meeting in Delhi, Begum Zia said Bangladesh "succeeded in including controversial river linking project in the agenda and in the joint statement".

"If water were withdrawn by implementing the river link project, it would create colossal environmental disaster for Bangladesh," she claimed. Zia called for a mutually "acceptable solution" to the issue based on understanding among the politicians and experts of two countries.

On the law and order situation in the country, Zia conceded that the success was below the desired level.


During her 40-minute televised speech, Zia stressed on the need for consensus on foreign policy issues so that relations with other countries are affected with the change in government and criticised the Awami League for boycotting the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference.
Earlier Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina said the people were hostage to a "anti-people and incompetent" government. Claiming the law and order situation had deteriorated during alliancer rule, she accused the government of indulging in repression of political opponents.


Bureau Report