Dhaka: BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed today expressed concerns over what he described as continuous propaganda against Bangladesh originating from Indian soil, emphasizing that Bangladeshis hold no enmity towards the Indian people. The remarks were made during a press conference at the BNP's central office in Nayapaltan. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rizvi accused India of attempting to destabilize Bangladesh through provocative statements and actions, suggesting that India is fostering an environment of fear and unrest within Bangladeshi society. He alleged that India is seeking to ignite communal tensions and disruption in Bangladesh by disseminating inflammatory rhetoric. Rizvi highlighted recent incidents involving attacks on Bangladesh's diplomatic missions in Indian cities such as Agartala and Kolkata, and protests outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Mumbai. He condemned these actions as violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1 961, and suggested that the Bangladesh government should consider seeking assistance from the UN peacekeeping force to ensure the safety of its mission officials in India. The BNP leader criticized the ruling BJP in India, claiming it has transformed the country into a religious extremist state, in contrast to Bangladesh's secular stance. He pointed to numerous reported atrocities against minority communities in India, asserting that the international community recognizes India as a hotspot for minority oppression. Rizvi cited a U.S. human rights report and statements from Human Rights Watch, which purportedly indicated that a significant portion of speeches by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi contained hate speech, particularly targeting Islamic communities. He urged international human rights organizations to investigate and address the persecution of minorities in India. In a direct message to Indian political leaders Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee, Rizvi advised them to focus on internal issues w ithin their own regions, while asserting that Bangladesh remains a peaceful nation for all its communities.
