Government won’t interfere if Buet bans politics, says prime minister

Speaking on the recent murder of Abrar Fahad, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government will not interfere if Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) decides to ban politics on campus. 

She made the statement during a press conference at Ganobhaban on Wednesday. The premier briefed the journalists about her recent visits to US and India.

The prime minister told the journalists, "Buet can ban student politics. But banning student politics is the style of dictators. Leaders emerge from student politics."

Abrar, 21, a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) was allegedly been beaten to death early on Monday by Chhatra League activists.

"Should we ban politics because of a single incident? One such incident can happen. I came from a background of student politics. If Buet bans it, it will be there internal decision. We won't interfere with it," said the prime minister. 

"What is the connection between the recent murder of the boy (Abrar Fahad) and politics? You are blaming student politics because of only one incident?" asked the prime minister and recalled the role student politics played in the Language Movement and the Liberation War. 

Criticising the agitating students, the premier asked, "When police went to collect the CCTV footage, the protesting students barred them for three hours. Were some of the agitators involved in the murder?"

The prime minister also critisised the students' behavior with the Buet Vice Chancellor Professor Saiful Islam. 

The premier also assured journalists that no one involved in the murder will escape justice. 

"I will not consider whether they are Chattra League men or not. Criminals are criminals, regardless of their political identity," she said. 

She also said that every room in the dormitories of every public university in the country will be searched and the authority will investigate what sort of activities go on in those premises. 

Replying to a question regarding Bangladesh's benefit from the memorandum of understanding on sharing the water of the Feni river, and exporting LPG, the premier said, "Sheikh Hasina will never sell out Bangladesh's interest."

She said the Feni river is situated on the border with India and both countries have the right to claim its water.  

"Sabroom in Tripura uses underground water which affects Bangladesh too. Under the agreement, Bangladesh will give 1.82 cusec water. How does it look if we do not share water when someone wants it for drinking?" asked the prime minister. 

She also said Bangladesh has to give water if Tripura wants it because they helped us a lot during the Liberation War in 1971. Besides a small amount of water will be shared with India and it will not impact Bangladesh much.  

About the Teesta issue the prime minster said, discussions regarding the matter is going on and hopefully a decision on it will be reached soon. 

Regarding exporting Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG, the premier said, no deal to export natural gas from Bangladesh to India was signed. An agreement was signed to process imported gas and export it to India. 

Bangladesh is importing a huge volume of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, which will be exported to India after adding value to it by processing, said the prime minister.

She criticised the people who are criticizing gas export from the country. "Those who are criticising gas export came to power by promising to sell gas to India," she said. 

On allowing India to use Chattogram and Mongla port the premier said, "No country builds ports to only use it themselves. Bangladesh will get more business and larger revenue if India, Nepal and Bhutan use these ports."

When asked about the crackdown on casinos, Sheikh Hasina said, the government will take action against all sorts of irregularities. "These irregularities had been prevalent for a long time, but nobody took action against them so far," she said. "Those who are addicted to gambling should find an island where they can gamble as much as they want."

Addressing the gamblers, the premier said, "Go to Bhasan Char and gamble after taking license and giving due taxes for it. There will be Rohingya's on one side of the island and gamblers on the other side."

About her India visit the premier said she had meaningful discussions regarding the water-sharing and dredging of seven common rivers, including Teesta, Dharla, Doodhkumar, and Muhuri. 

She said discussion on Teesta is continuing and Modi reinforced his commitment on the issue, and Bangladesh hopes that a solution will be reached soon. 

She also talked about the India's National Registration of Citizens (NRC) at the press conference. Indian Prime Minister Modi met the prime minister in New York during their visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly. There Modi assured Hasina that the NRC will not affect Bangladesh. 

"So far NRC has created no problems," Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina said at the conference. 

She also said India reiterated their promise to support Bangladesh in the Rohingya repatriation process. 

About the wage board for journalists, she said that she appointed the information minister to oversee issues regarding the Ninth Wage Board. "This is a matter of journalists and the owners of media outlets. We have done what we could do, the owners should take care of the rest of the process," she added.