BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas has expressed the view that the first bilateral meeting between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok was `very important`, reports UNB.

"This meeting is certainly very important. It (the meeting) was essential," he said while replying to a question from reporters on Friday afternoon at his residence in the city’s Shahjahanpur area.

The BNP leader said the Bangladesh government was trying for this meeting on its own initiative. “A meeting was needed at this time,” he said.

He said bringing Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh is the demand of the time and the people. “If there was talk only about the return of Sheikh Hasina in the meeting, then I would like to add a thing that those who are her (Sheikh Hasina`s) allies and trying to destabilize the country should also be sent back with her," he said.

‘Trial of Sheikh Hasina is important’

“India should immediately send Sheikh Hasina back to face trial because it is very important that a fascist is tried. This is very important not only for Bangladesh but for the whole world. No fascist should ever go unpunished.”

About the Teesta issue, he said the water of Teesta River must be shared with Bangladesh. Bangladesh should build the Teesta dam. “Bangladesh will not make any compromise on the Teesta and Farakka issues," he added.

Mirza Abbas said it is essential to cancel the unequal agreements made with India by the previous Awami League government. The agreements that were not implemented yet should also be annulled, he said.

About the election and reform, he said some are trying to claim that BNP loses temper when the reform is raised. "I have a strong objection here. BNP has never been against reforms, BNP has always been in favor of reforms, and at the same time, BNP is also in favor of election,” he said.

The BNP leader said both reform and election are needed. But BNP is not in favor of the reforms that go beyond the interests of the people of the country and the rights of the people, he went on.