BNP acting Secretary General and Prime Minister's Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday alleged that evil forces were trying to resurface to undermine the country's democratic environment and create instability.

“Attempts are being made to create anarchy across the country in a planned manner,” he said while addressing a discussion organised at North South University (NSU) marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Rizvi said no initiative lacking public support could survive. “Although attempts are being made to carry out acts of sabotage in a planned manner, the people will resist them,” he said.

He alleged that attempts were being made to carry out anti-state activities with financial support from across the border. “Even the homes of women student leaders who played leading roles in recent movements have come under attack,” he said.

However, the BNP leader expressed confidence that such attempts to create artificial instability would not last long.

He called for building a sustainable and fear-free democratic environment to ensure that a culture of fear never returned to the country.

Rizvi also strongly criticised the education system and the role of the intellectual community during the previous regime.

Citing a report by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), he alleged that recruitment at all levels, from primary schools to public universities, had been influenced by financial transactions during the previous government.

The BNP leader also alleged that fabricated versions of history had been incorporated into textbooks, pushing the country's education system towards destruction.

Drawing examples from history, Rizvi said many renowned philosophers and writers in Germany had sided with fascism during Adolf Hitler's rule. “Similarly, many prominent intellectuals in Bangladesh worked in favour of the previous authoritarian government.”

Referring to the incident in which eminent writer and intellectual Badruddin Umar was not allowed to return to university teaching after independence, he said genuine education was not limited to earning certificates. “The true purpose of education lies in conscience, humanity and standing up for the truth during difficult times,” he said.

The discussion was chaired by North South University Vice-Chancellor Prof Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, while noted economist and National Professor Dr Mahbub Ullah spoke as the keynote discussant.

Members of the NSU Board of Trustees MA Kashem and Benajir Ahmed attended the programme as special guests.

NSU Pro-VC Prof Nasar U Ahmed delivered the welcome address.