People Will Not Accept Sacrificing National Interests Over Matarbari Deep Sea Port

Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has warned that the people of the country will not accept any initiative or decision regarding the Matarbari Deep Sea Port that compromises national interests, security, and geographical sovereignty. He made the statement in a post on his verified Facebook page on Thursday morning, 29 October. Demanding government transparency over the port project and the nation’s strategic security, he stated that the government must clarify what is actually happening regarding this matter.

In his post, he wrote that there is no scope to accept any step or decision involving the Matarbari Deep Sea Port if it sacrifices national interests, security, and geographical sovereignty, adding that the public will never tolerate it. He demanded that the reality of the situation be placed clearly before the nation. Referring to past facilities such as transit and corridors, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman noted that although various concessions were granted in the past under different names like transit and corridor in the name of Bangladesh’s interests, the country virtually derived no real benefits from them.

Emphasizing that national sovereignty and security must be given the highest priority regardless of relations with friendly nations like China or Japan, the Jamaat chief said that whether it involves Japan, China, or any other friendly state, Bangladesh’s sovereignty, security, and national interests must always come first. Stating that the primary responsibility to safeguard national interests and security lies with the current government, the Opposition Leader added that any failure or compromise in this regard on the government’s part will not be tolerated by the public at all.