Dhaka, Oct 12 (UNB)-Opposition BNP secretary-general Khandaker Delwar Hossain urged the government to take a strong stance against Myanmar’s border fencing and troop movements along the Bangladesh border.

“The government should be more vocal against it,” he told reporters at BNP central office on Monday afternoon.

Delwar suggested that alongside strengthening the diplomatic offensive, the government should increase physical movements along the border with Myanmar.

Ridiculing the attitude of the Foreign Ministry, he said if Myanmar takes away homesteads from Bangladesh, the Foreign Ministry will have no concern. “The Foreign Ministry does not find anything to express its concern.”

The BNP leader cautioned that the people would build up united resistance if the government failed to protect the country’s geographical territory, sovereignty and democracy.

On the Speaker’s concern over the absence of the treasury-bench members from parliament, Delwar said the parliament is running unilaterally without the opposition and the speaker rightly voiced his concern.

He said the government has turned the parliament non-functioning and has not taken any initiative to bring back the opposition to parliament by creating congenial atmosphere.

“Since parliament is running unilaterally, it is obvious treasury-bench members will not feel good,” said Delwar, whose party lawmakers have long been abstaining from attending parliament session over a dispute concerning front-row sitting arrangement.

He said BNP is speaking about creating congenial atmosphere for the opposition’s return so “the country cannot be dysfunctional”.

On remand of BNP’s ex-Minister Abdus Salam Pintu in connection with the August 21 grenade attack, he said it is a ploy to capture more opposition leaders.

About the trial of 1971 war criminals, Delwar said Awami League raised the issue before the last election to gain political edge, but it is too late to hold the trial.

He thinks it would be difficult to collect data and information for the trial.