Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Saturday claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping sent out a special message that it believes in friendship with people by holding a meeting with the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia ignoring the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushon Ershad.

Speaking at a discussion, party standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain also said their party expects China will implement all the deals signed with Bangladesh protecting the mutual interests, independence and sovereignty of the two countries.

‘China believes in friendship with people. It’s a tradition that when Presidents visit any country they talk to both the government and the opposition in parliament of that country,’ he said.

The BNP leader further said, ‘The Chinese President has given a clear message to the country’s people that he did not give importance to the

Parliament’s opposition party as this parliament is not elected one and there is no real people’s representative or opposition in it.’  

He said Xi Jinping met their chairperson Khaleda Zia as she is the leader of the country’s 16 crore people. ‘We think he’s also given a message to Bangladeshi people that China always believes in relations with people.’

Mosharraf, who was present at a meeting between the Chinese President and the BNP chief, came up with the comments at the discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) arranged by Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa).  

Khaleda Zia had a meeting with the Chinese President at Hotel Le Meridien in the city on Friday evening where she urged Xi Jinping to continue their assistance for Bangladesh’s various activities, especially the development ones, and always stand by it.

After the meeting, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters that the Chinese President expressed the hope that Bangladesh will support the role China has been playing in the geopolitical field.

He said their party thinks the Chinese President’s call to support its role in the geopolitical field is very meaningful.  

Mosharraf said the Chinese President assured that his country will remain beside Bangladesh during its any crisis. ‘It’ll also be there beside Bangladesh so that it can be economically stronger.’

He said Xi Jinping told the BNP chairperson that his country wants a good friendship between the people of two countries. ‘The Chinese President also hinted that people are important to them as government comes and goes.’

The BNP leader said China had been beside Bangladesh in the past with financial support for its development, not for exploiting it. ‘It wants to strengthen its ties further in the future.’

About the deals signed with Bangladesh during the Chinese President’s visit, Mosharraf said,,’We hope China will surely implement all the agreements protecting the mutual interests, independence, sovereignty, and culture of the two countries.’