Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman has accused India’s Border Security Force (BSF) of atrocities against people along the India-Bangladesh border, stating his party will stop “border killings” if voted to power.

What did Tarique Rahman say?

The BNP, considered the largest political force in Bangladesh in the absence of deposed PM Sheikh Hasina’s banned Awami League party, released its manifesto for the February 12 Bangladesh elections, in which it raised the issue of water sharing and border tensions with India.

“If the BNP comes to power, we will prioritize stopping border killings by India’s BSF. The BNP government will take steps to restore order along the border, and work to secure a fair share of water from rivers like the Teesta and Padma, shared with India,” Rahman said.

BNP manifesto calls for ‘Bangladesh first’ policy

In its manifesto, the BNP said it will adopt a “Bangladesh first” foreign policy and will work of developing friendly ties will all countries, but won’t accept any country as its “master”, a veiled jibe at former PM Hasina who was accused of “taking orders from New Delhi”.

The BNP also called for building strategic partnerships with Bangladesh’s neighbors as well as Gulf nations, and assured that it won’t allow Bangladeshi soil to be used for any terrorist activity, an attempt to allay India’s concerns about Dhaka’s growing ties with Islamabad.

Will BNP align with Jamaat?

Meanwhile, Tarique Rahman said the BNP has not aligned with the Jamaat-e-Islami, and dismissed the idea of sharing power with the hardline Islamist group, calling the Jamaat as the main rival of the BNP.

In an interview with Reuters, Tarique Rahman expressed confidence that his party will secure a majority in the general elections and form the government without needing support from other parties.

“How can I form a government with my political opponents? If they are also in the government, then who will be in the opposition? I don’t know how many seats they will have, but if they are in the opposition, I hope they will play the role of a good opposition,” he said.

How Tarique Rehman emerged as PM candidate?

Tarique Rahman, the son of deceased former premier Khaleda Zia, has emerged as the top Prime Ministerial contender in absence of Hasina’s Awami League, which was disbanded and barred from contesting polls by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government last year.

Rahman, 60, was appointed as the chairman of the BNP, days after his mother and three-time Prime Minister Khaleda Zia passed away due to prolonged illness on December 30.

Political analysts say Rahman’s appointment has made BNP overwhelming favorites in the February 12 elections, but the 11-party alliance led by the Jamaat and NCP could dent the party’s chances, primarily because of the recent rise of Islamic fundamentalism across Bangladesh.

Bangladesh elections are scheduled to be held on February 12, and results are expected to be declared the very next day on February 13.