After boycotting the  national election, BNP has now decided not to join the upcoming upazila parishad polls under the current government. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office. "We have always said that any election under Sheikh Hasina will never be peaceful, credible and fair. So, BNP had taken a decision not to go to any election under her. BNP still stands by that decision,” he said. Earlier on Monday, Awami League Central Working Committee at an emergency meeting decided not to field party candidates and allocate party’s election symbol “boat” in any local government polls, including the upcoming elections to city corporations, municipalities and upazila parishads. Read more: 'India deepened ties with AL, not people of Bangladesh': Rizvi Asked what BNP will do if the elections are held without party symbols, Rizvi said, “We’re saying that the elections will not be fair under this government…we’re still stick to our decision of not going to any polls under Sheikh Hasina since no free and fair election can ever be held under her.” Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman on Monday said the first phase of upazila polls can be held by April 30 considering the beginning of the SSC examinations in February and the fasting month in March. Justifying their decision to boycott the upcoming upazila polls, Rizvi said the country’s people know how the 12th parliamentary election was held under Sheikh Hasina and what were the results and nature of that polls. He said it was also proved through the national elections in 2014 and 2018 that credible polls are not possible under the Awami League government. “Sheikh Hasina in no way believes in democracy, no matter what statements she makes. She doesn’t believe in the power of the people, the will of the people,” the BNP leader said. He said the government conducted a strange and farcical election as per its master plan with the support of its masters as it is least bothered about democracy and public opinions. Read more: Moyeen Khan expects AL govt to fall apart 'like a house of cards'

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday described the attacks on female leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Dhaka University Campus by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) as a 'cowardly' act. “The Prime Minister has made Chhatra League men cowards, terrorists and extortionists. The way Chhatra League cadres attacked the female students at Dhaka University yesterday (Tuesday) was a cowardly act,” he said. Also read: BNP starts pro-democracy movement dialogue with political parties Rizvi was speaking at a human chain programme in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office arranged by Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal in protest against what it said issuing a death threat to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. BNP said that the prime minister’s recently reported remark that Khaleda should be pushed into the river from the Padma Bridge is tantamount to a death threat.  The Awami League, however, said BNP is misinterpreting the PM’s remark. Rizvi wondered how the leaders and activists of the ruling party student body could beat JCD female leaders as students should have a sense of humanity. “I visited a hospital yesterday (Tuesday) where Mansura and Trina (JCD female leaders) were groaning in pain. They are students of Dhaka University,” the BNP leader said.  He said the videos on the attacks on the female JCD leaders have gone viral on social media. “No one but cowards can hit girls in this brutal way.” The BNP leader said many other JCD leaders and activists were also beaten by the BCL leaders and activists on the DU campus. “Of them, the condition of Rashed and Afsan was critical.” Also read: Home minister bins BNP allegation on BCL-JCD clash Rizvi strongly protested and condemned the attack and demanded immediate arrest and legal action against those who attacked the JCD leaders and activists, including the female ones. At least 35 people were injured in clashes between the activists of BCL and JCD on the Dhaka University campus on Tuesday.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said convicted lawmaker Haji Selim’s going abroad has rendered the court  ‘helpless' before the ruling party. “Haji Selim left the country without surrendering to the court in a corruption case.  His smooth foreign trip has proved that the court has now become helpless before the leaders and ministers of the ruling party,” he said. Also read: Govt let loose police against BNP, alleges Rizvi The BNP leader was addressing a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office. He alleged that the role of the court is almost the same as the way the RAB-police are harassing the the opposition since the government has politicised every institution, including the judiciary and administration. Rizvi recalled that the law minister turned down BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s application seeking permission to go abroad, and questioned how Haji Selim availed of that scope.  “If the law is the same for everyone, then under what law did Haji Selim go abroad for treatment?"  Which constitution allows one law for Begum Khaleda Zia and another law for Haji Selim. What a rule of law it is! ” he said. Also read:Repression again on BNP leaders as per ‘govt master plan’: Rizvi The BNP leader also said a medieval  rule  now prevails in every sector of the country. “Awami Leaguers who wear Mujib Court and those enjoy the blessings of the prime minister are above the law while the judicial orders are being made with vengeance at the behest of Ganobhaban.” Awami League  MP Haji Selim, who was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in a corruption case, went to Bangkok for treatment recently. 

BNP on Monday alleged that the ruling party business syndicate has raised the prices of daily essentials for lack of the government’s market intervention. "The prices of essentials have gone up several hundred times. The market syndicate of their own (ruling party's) people have done this,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also said though the prices of all essentials have skyrocketed, there is no government intervention to control it. Read: Govt filing ‘false’ cases against BNP leaders again: Fakhrul “The Awami government has created a manmade disaster in Bangladesh through the unlimited rise in commodity prices, misrule, enforced disappearances, killings and extrajudicial killings,” Rizvi observed. The BNP leader also alleged that Awami League government has made the people of the country even poorer in the last 12 years. He came down hard on Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi for his comment that the government has nothing to do with the rise in commodity prices. “His comment has exposed that Awami League is not running the country. When you’ve nothing to do then who runs the country? Is any invisible force running the country?” The BNP leader said the commerce minister's statement is nothing but a strong defence for corruption. “It’s also a cruel joke of the minister against the unemployed, half-starved and starving people of the country.” He also questioned the government as to why it remains in power by force when it cannot deal with people’s problems.  Read: Govt 'indulging again' in acts of enforced disappearance, abduction: BNP “A decent government steps down when it fails and can’t do anything for people. This is a practice in the democratic world. But you (govt) have been there in power shamelessly through an illegal parliament,” Rizvi said. He slammed Prime Minister's ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy for his remark that the country was pushed back 50 years during BNP's five-year rule. “He (Joy) did not say how Awami League has taken the country forward…His remarks give an impression that he has studied in a strange institute. Mr Joy is the headmaster of providing bizarre information.”

BNP on Wednesday alleged that police attacked its peaceful rally in Habiganj and sprayed bullets indiscriminately on its leaders and activists, leaving around 300 injured. BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the allegation at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office. “As the rally began in front of our party office in Habiganj’s Shaistanagar at noon, police attacked the rally without any provocation and opened fire indiscriminately, injuring over 300 leaders and activists,” he said. Read: 10 injured in BNP infighting in Chattogram As part of their countrywide programme, Rizvi said Habiganj district unit BNP arranged the rally demanding party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad. BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain was present at the rally as the chief guest, while its chairperson’s adviser Zainul Abedin Farroque as special guest. Rizvi said the injured include Habiganj district Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) organising secretary Rajib Ahmed Ringan, Jubo Dal general secretary Jalal, BNP leader Advocate Sharif,  JCD leaders Saidur Rahman, Arshad, Abdul Aahad Tushar, Matshajibi Dal leader Mobarak Hossain, Shipon Ahmed Shahjahan and Zahir Ali.

BNP on Tuesday said its chairperson Khaleda Zia has been going through an extremely critical time at Evercare Hospital in the capital as her physical condition continues to worsen. “Despite repeated demands to send BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced treatment, the government has remained mysteriously silent. Her condition is deteriorating as days go by,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he said doctors are saying Khaleda’s treatment for liver cirrhosis and internal bleeding is not possible in the country. “Advanced treatment abroad is urgently needed to save her life.” Read: Khaleda’s condition still unchanged: BNP The BNP leader alleged that the “government has indulged in a terrible inhumane conspiracy” without considering the dying state of Khaleda. “The government has been conspiring in various ways over her treatment to eliminate her from the world.” He bemoaned that Khaleda is being deprived of basic human rights while she has been there at the crossroads of death and life. “Our leader’s treatment abroad is possible as per the customary law of the country.” Rizvi said the government is trying to remove its political rival ignoring the demands of people of all walks of life irrespective of their party affiliation. He urged the government to take necessary steps to allow the BNP chief to go abroad for treatment immediately and said their party will start holding rallies in district towns from Wednesday to push the demand. Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13. Her medical board members said Khaleda immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Read: Writ seeks HC directive for Khaleda’s treatment abroad On behalf of her family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment. Law Minister Anisul Huq recently said the government is looking for a legal option to allow Khaleda to go abroad for treatment.

 A Dhaka court Monday issued warrants for the arrest of  BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and its Rajshahi division organizing secretary Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu in a case filed under the Special Powers Act. The case was filed at Shahbagh police station in 2018 . Read:Tarique, Fakhrul among 9 face arrest warrant Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Emrul Kayes passed the order. Besides, the court accepted the charge sheet submitted against them.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was admitted to Square Hospitals in the city with coronavirus infection on Thursday morning.

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday underwent a successful coronary angioplasty at a city hospital.

BNP on Friday strongly opposed the Election Commission’s (EC’s) proposal for scrapping its direct power to cancel the candidature of candidates by amending the Representation of the People Order (RPO), saying it is a 'suicidal' move.