NCP Convener Nahid Islam yesterday warned the prime minister against visiting India before New Delhi hands over Sheikh Hasina and those accused of Osman Hadi and July killings to Bangladesh.

“If they [BNP govt] compromise with India and visit that country, people will conclude that Tarique Rahman is not the bearer of the nationalist politics pursued by Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia,” he said while speaking as  chief guest at a rally organised by NCP’s Dhaka South unit on Shaheed Faruk Road in Jatrabari.

Nahid said the country’s sovereignty, democracy and justice system were attacked on August 5 this year, when Hasina spoke at a programme in Delhi. “But this government could do nothing other than issuing statements.”

“Unless the government ensures accountability for July killings, people of this country will never accept Tarique Rahman’s visit to India,” he said.

NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, Narayanganj-4 MP Abdullah Al Amin, Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb, Joint Convener Javed Rasin and several other central leaders also spoke, while family members of July martyrs were present.