New Delhi:

Opposition leaders demanding a boycott of Indian merchandise should declare what number of Indian sarees their wives have and why they don’t seem to be setting these on hearth, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has mentioned.

Addressing a gathering of the ruling Awami League, of which she is the president, Ms Hasina tore into the Bangladesh Nationalist Occasion (BNP) leaders calling for a boycott of Indian merchandise. “My query is, what number of Indian sarees do their wives have? And why are they not taking the sarees from their wives and setting them on hearth? Please ask BNP leaders,” she mentioned.

The Bangladesh Prime Minister, who secured the fourth consecutive time period in workplace within the elections held earlier this 12 months, mentioned that when the BNP was in energy, ministers and their wives would purchase sarees on India journeys and promote them in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina then moved to Indian spices and their function in Bangladesh’s kitchens. “Garam masala, onions, garlic, ginger, all spices that come (from India) shouldn’t be seen of their (BNP leaders’) houses,” she mentioned.

The remarks got here after BNP chief Ruhul Kabir Rizvi threw away his Kashmiri scarf on the highway as a symbolic protest towards Indian merchandise, The Every day Star reported.

The developments are happening towards the backdrop of an ‘India-Out’ marketing campaign in Bangladesh. Launched by some activists and influencers and backed by a bit of Opposition politicians, the marketing campaign has gathered steam after the Awami League’s latest victory in an election boycotted by the Opposition BNP.

These concerned within the marketing campaign declare India has been backing Sheikh Hasina to remain on in energy as a result of the established order fits its pursuits.

Whereas some BNP leaders corresponding to Mr Rizvi have voiced assist for the marketing campaign, the celebration has not spelt out its stand clearly. “Our policymaking physique mentioned the problem when some leaders wished readability on the celebration’s stand on the boycott name. Until now, our celebration does not have any official stand on it. However additionally it is true that this can be a name from the individuals and a few of our leaders are supporting it,” mentioned Sayrul Kabir Khan, a member of BNP’s media cell, The Telegraph has reported.