DHAKA: “India should be careful in choosing its friends in Bangladesh.”Media adviser to PM Sheikh Hasina, Iqbal Shobhan Chowdhury, minced no wordswhile addressing a session at the India-Bangladesh media conclave, saying,“For India to trust BNP is comparable to the US or CIA supporting Osama binLaden, who later emerged as America’s biggest trouble.

Hence India should be careful in choosing its friends in Bangladesh, Timesof India has reported.

Chowdhury’s comment came in the context of the bitter political fightbetween Awami League and main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party andDhaka’s claims that India-Bangladesh ties are at their best after Hasinatook over the reins as PM, defeating anti-Indian and anti-liberal forces.

Awami League general secretary and communication minister Obaidur Kader waseven more direct as he addressed the conclave. He said, “Amader bikalpoPakistaner bondhura (Our alternative is a friend of Pakistan).”

Asked about what would happen if she lost the polls, Hasina had toldvisiting Indian journalists at her residence, “The PM’s chair is for justfive years, but since my father (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) liberated thiscountry, I try to lead my life for that purpose and will continue to do so.

I believe people understand this.” About her ties with India, she said,“Governments will come and go, but neighbours will remain and all problemscan be solved bilaterally.”