Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said on Friday that the government is reviewing 101 agreements signed with India during the ousted Sheikh Hasina government and will soon decide what action to take if any provisions are found to be against Bangladesh’s interests.

He made the remarks at a press conference at the media centre of the Jatiya Sangsad following the third session of the 13th Parliament.

Moni said the government wanted to maintain relations with neighbouring India while giving the highest priority to Bangladesh’s national interests.

“Bangladesh and India will remain friends, but that friendship will never be allowed to go against the interests of our country,” he said.

He said the agreements signed with India during the Hasina government were being reviewed and any provisions conflicting with national interests would be identified and necessary measures taken.

Referring to Chattogram Port, the chief whip said the previous government had introduced various arrangements and signed agreements under which, among other things, vessels of a friendly country would be given priority in unloading when two ships arrived at the port simultaneously.

The current government was trying to withdraw from numerous such agreements that went against Bangladesh’s interests, he said.

Moni also said the prime minister had been invited to the BRICS summit in India in his capacity as chair of BIMSTEC, clarifying that the invitation was not extended to him personally.

Giving an overview of the third parliamentary session, the chief whip said six bills were passed during the nine-working-day session, while answers were provided to 1,678 questions from lawmakers. Of these, the prime minister answered 15 questions directly.

He said a bill on property transfers had ensured parents’ right to use and possess property even after gifting it to their children during their lifetime.

Government lawmakers were saddened when opposition leaders walked out in protest against the bill, he added.

On the power crisis, Moni said it takes at least two to two-and-a-half years to build a new 500MW power plant.

The previous government spent huge amounts on capacity payments to power plants without generating electricity, he said, adding that the current government had scrapped the previous arrangement providing immunity from liability.