Parliament Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni has launched a scathing attack on India, accusing New Delhi of a stark "contradiction" between its words and actions in bilateral relations.
He said the government is reviewing 101 memorandums of understanding signed with India, with the outcome expected “very soon”.
Moni also brought up Felani Khatun’s killing and India’s barbed-wire fencing along the border on Friday after the third session of the 13th Parliament.
The chief whip accused India of “presenting itself as a friend while taking actions that hurt Bangladesh”.
“They put up barbed-wire fences and then call themselves friends. Those friends leave Felani’s body hanging on the barbed wire,” Moni said.
He also accused the neighbour of restricting the Bangladesh Coast Guard and detaining Bangladeshi vessels.
Moni said Indian vessels receive preferential treatment at Chittagong Port, claiming Bangladeshi importers have to pay demurrage while cargo from Indian vessels is cleared first.
Touching on the energy crisis, the Chief Whip turned his sights on India's Adani Group, criticising past deals struck under the Awami League government.
He likened those arrangements to tending a tree on one's own land only to hand over the harvest to a neighbour, adding that Bangladesh is servicing loans for transit roads that its own citizens cannot even use.
According to him, Bangladesh is working to move away from such arrangements.
"We have no enemies, everyone is our friend, but our country comes first. That's why Tarique Rahman has said, ‘Bangladesh first’.”
Moni also referred to India’s invitation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, as Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) chair, to attend the BRICS summit.
"Tarique is Bangladesh's prime minister. Won't you extend that much respect to an independent nation? Is that too much to expect from you [India]?" he said.
‘Why Don’t You Oppose Muslim Law?’
Moni also discussed laws passed during the third session of the parliament and the role of Opposition parties.
He said 22 of the 39 ministry-related standing committees have three Opposition members each.
On Jamaat-e-Islami’s opposition to the Property Transfer Bill 2026, the chief whip said the party had cited Shariah law even though there was no pledge to introduce it in its election manifesto.
He said the law was introduced to protect elderly parents’ security and their right to enjoy their property.
“Children cannot take property from their parents and leave them on the streets with begging bowls,” Moni said.
He also referred to cases in recent years in which parents have allegedly faced abuse at the hands of their educated children.
Addressing Jamaat, Moni questioned why the party opposed the bill on grounds of Shariah law while accepting other aspects of Muslim law.
“You sign marriage contracts. You accept all of it,” he said.
Asked about differences with Opposition parties, Moni said there had been no increase in disagreements.
“There have been no differences. The differences have not increased,” he said.
He accused Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman of trying to build a particular narrative around the country’s political history.
“He is trying to create a narrative, going from the 1971 Liberation War to 1947, then to the Language Movement. But he did not utter a single word about Ziaur Rahman,” Moni said.
“He then moved on to [HM Ershad], and after Ershad he came to the 2024 July Uprising, trying to build a narrative.”
The chief whip said relations with the Opposition had not deteriorated but had instead become closer.
“Our relations have not suffered. Rather, we have become closer,” he said, referring to the prime minister’s comment that if a long march could solve the problem, the government itself would have held one.
"We never said your long march caused massive damage, or that you were inciting anyone, or trying to infiltrate anyone."
Moni also said discussions were held with 16 ambassadors before drafting legislation on enforced disappearance prevention and human rights.
