Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday came down heavily on main opposition BNP for its remarks criticising Bangladesh’s win in the verdict on maritime boundary dispute with India. After the recent verdict announced by the Hague-based international court, BNP claimed that the government had awarded some portion of the Bay of Bengal to India. “Is there any existence of Talpatty? The quarter which
raised the question, had been in power for a long period. Why Talpatty is not in the map?” said a minister quoting the premier as saying during a weekly cabinet meeting at the Secretariat. The premier, who was in the chair, said the BNP did not work on the issue while it was in power. “Those who raised the question should visit the place,” she said. Sources said the meeting adopted a thanks-giving motion on the verdict in maritime boundary dispute case, congratulating the premier and the individuals and authorities concerned for gaining 19,467 square kilometres of maritime areas in the Bay of Bengal. With this verdict, Bangladesh has finally won more than 118,813 square kilometres of waters comprising territorial sea, exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles and also got ‘undeniable’ sovereign rights in the seabed extending 354 nautical miles from Chittagong coast in the Bay rich in all the living and non-living resources. The cabinet also condemned Israel’s barbarous attacks on the civilians in Gaza. Meeting sources said the premier at the beginning of the meeting said she enjoyed the World Cup football final match between Germany and Argentina. “Although my team has been left out from the competition, I enjoyed the match,” Hasina said, adding that she would have been happy if Messi scored and Argentina won. Germany clinched the FIFA World Cup Champions trophy for the forth time defeating Argentina by a single goal. Sources said food minister Qamrul Islam termed Argentine super star Messi ‘foul’ player for his failure to score in the high voltage match. But some minister strongly opposed the word. The meeting returned to its regular business after the post-match discussion. As the cabinet secretary kept seven agendas at the meeting, a senior minister made a fun with him. “Why did you keep so many agendas? We all have enjoyed the match at night,” the source said adding that some ministers were absent in the meeting. The foreign ministry presented the issue of the victory in the Bay before the cabinet meeting. Referring to BNP’s criticism of the verdict, land minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif Dilu said that Khaleda Zia and Maj (rtd) Hafiz should be sent to the sea. “Let them swim there to find out the existence of any island,” he added. Briefing reporters after the meeting, cabinet secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the government will soon publish gazette regarding the country’s victory in the Bay. He said that the meeting took a resolution to publish gazette on the maritime victory. “The cabinet congratulated the premier for the victory,” he said, adding that the premier also directed the ministries concerned for putting in collective efforts to explore the resources in the sea. The cabinet secretary also said that the premier will soon brief the nation on the maritime victory. “But the time and date is yet to be fixed,” he said, adding that the Press Wing of the Prime Minister has not provided information in this regard. The cabinet secretary also said that the meeting also strongly condemned Israel’s attacks in Gaza. “The issue was not in the agenda. Israel is carrying out attacks and killing civilians in Gaza. Women and children are being killed. It is a serious violation of human rights. The meeting condemned the attack,” he said, adding that such attack, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan is regrettable. “Bangladesh will remain with Palestine for establishing its just rights,” he said, adding that the meeting also urged the international community to create pressure on Israel to stop attacks. Ministers and state ministers attended the cabinet meeting also attended by secretaries concerned.
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