Dhaka, May 2 -- Prof Anu Muhammad, a member of the Ganatantrik Odhikar Committee, has once again criticised the failure of successive governments to strengthen national capacity and state institutions in strategic sectors such as energy and natural resource management.

Speaking at an event evaluating the BNP government's first few months in power at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Saturday, the former Jahangirnagar University teacher described reliance on foreign multinationals as "suicidal".

"Instead of increasing our own capacity, suicidal dependence on foreign multinational companies and unequal treaties are putting public interest at extreme risk," he said.

The remarks follow widespread criticism of a trade agreement signed between the Yu...