United News of Bangladesh

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday alleged that a deep conspiracy is currently underway in the country, which he fears, could be linked to an international plot. “I just want to tell the government — I have a strong feeling that a deep conspiracy is going on inside the country,” he said while speaking at a milad mahfil. Rizvi demanded that the interim government carry out an investigation into what he believes could be another wave of conspiracy against the country. “The attacks on shrines and the burning of a dead body could be part of a bigger international conspiracy. We strongly condemn these acts,” the BNP leader said. BNP organised the programme at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, marking Eid-e-Miladunnabi. Rizvi said such incidents as attacking shrines and burning dead bodies had never been heard of, even during the Pakistan era. “We are supposed to have progressed with time. So, why are these things happening all of a sudden now? These are the kinds of things Sheikh Hasina used to do,” he said. Rizvi also criticised what he called false propaganda against BNP.  “Whenever BNP is in power, we are accused of being pro-Pakistan and of giving shelter to Islamist militants. These are false accusations that have never been proven,” he said. In an indirect reference to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, he said the party is trying to portray BNP as a pro-India party to gain politically. “You call us pro-India, but after 5 August, it was you who claimed a special relationship with India. During the 1971 war, when the nation was fighting for its freedom, it was you who supported the Pakistani military,” the BNP leader said. Pointing at deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Rizvi said she had once promised to run the country according to the Charter of Medina. “But what did we see? One minister owns 140 houses in London, while 60 kathas of land in Purbachal have been allocated in her children’s names. There were also plans to build 30 bungalows on 72 bighas of public land near Chattogram airport — while poor people die without treatment. During COVID, many died due to a lack of oxygen,” he said. Rizvi claimed that BNP is a patriotic party whose Chairperson Khaleda Zia remained in the country and suffered in jail in false cases.  “We are not a foreign-backed party. We are a pro-Bangladesh party. We are the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)," he said. Referring to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Rizvi said, “Despite the extreme heat today, we are gathered to honour the great man who spread Allah’s message across the world. If we truly followed even a part of his teachings, our society would be free from injustice, violence, and bloodshed.”   He regretted that while Muslims claim to follow the Prophet, “in reality, they neither follow nor try to emulate him, and that is the greatest failure of the Muslim world.” Don’t want to return to Hasina’s 'barbaric era': Rizvi Rizvi said the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) united a deeply divided Arab society and offered a solution that pleased everyone. “Today we talk about the Charter of Medina, but in reality, we follow none of it.” On this day of celebration and prayer,” Rizvi said, “let us take inspiration from the life of the Prophet who brought the message of Allah. If we follow his example, corruption, greed, and hatred will disappear from society. We can live honestly and peace will return.”

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday alleged that the people of Bangladesh are being systematically denied their voting rights as happened during the dictatorship. Speaking at an event in Belkuchi, Sirajganj, where BNP distributed Eid relief among the destitute, Rizvi said, “Just as under past autocratic regimes, people today are being kept away from voting.” He recalled Bangladesh’s history of student-led movements for democracy, saying, “Student-people movements had overthrown dictators before through struggles to protect democracy.” Rizvi emphasised that political reforms should be a continuous process driven by an elected government in parliament. He alleged that the SP and OC of Comilla are now acting at the behest of an influential advisor to the interim government. Rizvi claimed that the leaders of BNP, Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal are being arrested and harassed ahead of Eid. “This government claims to be neutral, yet under its orders, BNP leaders and activists are being arrested and sent to prison,” the BNP leader said. Criticising former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he alleged that she fled the country out of fear during the Moinuddin-Fakhruddin administration and after 1975. “If you (Hasina) were truly courageous, you would have returned to the country immediately after your family was assassinated. Instead, you only returned when you were assured of safety,” he claimed. Interim govt advisers trying to divide anti-fascist movement: Rizvi Rizvi also alleged that Hasina had negotiated with the Moinuddin-Fakhruddin administration to remove BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia from the country, but the plan failed. “Begum Zia’s leadership emerged from the grassroots, and she has never abandoned people or the country. Despite enduring false cases, imprisonment and repression by the Awami League government, she continues to fight for democracy,” he added. During the programme, Rizvi handed over donation cheques on behalf of BNP to two martyred families of Belkuchi. Under the direction of BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Eid relief was distributed among 5,000 destitute people. BNP’s Rajshahi Divisional Joint Organising Secretary Amirul Islam Khan Alim, former Belkuchi Upazila BNP President Jamal Bhuiyan, and former convener Nurul Islam Golam were among those present at the event.

Slamming the government for delaying the national election, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said the advisers’ "reforms first, elections later" remark echoed Sheikh Hasina's "development first, democracy later." Talking to reporters on Friday after paying homage to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, Rizvi also expressed doubt whether the government has any master plan, as a political party is set to launch with its backing. “The people expect this government to perform its duties impartially and take steps to strengthen democracy. But when we hear 'reform first, then elections,' it sounds like an echo of Sheikh Hasina's words, 'development first, then democracy.' Such statements should not come from any adviser’s mouth,” Rizvi said. He said the country’s people have waited for 16 years, fought on the streets, shed their blood, and sacrificed their lives for the restoration of democracy and ensuring free and fair elections. “Why is there so much hesitation and delay regarding that free and fair election? This is now the question of the people.” No scope for reforms without democratic process: Khosru The BNP leader said it is common for political parties to criticise the government for its inaction in controlling the rising prices of essentials or if its administration fails to operate neutrally. “So, why are you trying to instill fear of a repeat of 1/11?” We have overcome all obstacles, staying on the streets bravely year after year. Now, will the advisers teach the country's wise politicians what we should support, what we should not support, and what we should talk about and what we should not?” he questioned Rizvi said their party has placed its full trust in the interim government since its formation. "But our point is, why is there so much delay, no deadline? Why are Hasina's words being repeated—that development comes first, democracy later? We do not want to hear this. He said some advisers of the interim government have been making negative remarks against BNP, both publicly and covertly. “We are also hearing that some people within the government are trying to form a political party. If that’s the case, the people can question the neutrality of the government. Other political parties, who have fought for democracy, may think the government is involved in some sort of master plan,” Rizvi said. He said the government recently conducted a survey through the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), which revealed that the majority of people in the country want local government elections before the national elections. Interim govt fails to maintain neutrality in some cases: Fakhrul “The BBS is a government agency, and they have conducted the survey under government supervision. If you conduct a survey through a government agency, they will obviously speak in favour of the government. If your actions are not neutral, the people will naturally question the government's impartiality." Earlier, Rizvi, along with party leaders and workers, placed a wreath at the Banani grave of Koko in the morning, marking his 10th death anniversary. BNP leaders and workers marked the 10th death anniversary of Arafat Rahman Koko with various programmes. The party arranged a doa mahfil at its Nayapaltan central office in the morning. Another doa mahfil was also held at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office in the evening.