Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed has stressed that the future of Bangladesh will remain uncertain without a proper trial for the genocide committed during the July mass uprising. He made this statement at an urgent press conference held at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rizvi highlighted the importance of the genocide trial as a crucial step in establishing the rule of law and justice in the country. He criticized the current approach of merely arresting the accused or sending them abroad, claiming that the influence of the dictator Sheikh Hasina persists in various sectors such as the secretariat, police, judiciary, and different societal levels. Rizvi emphasized the need for immediate and strict actions against those collaborating with fascist elements to defeat Hasina’s allies effectively.
Rizvi further accused collaborators of the fallen dictator Sheikh Hasina of occupying important positions within the administration. He warned that without identifying those who resisted the changes since August 5, the interim government would struggle to succeed. He relayed the sentiment of BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, who believes that while the interim government’s steps may not be universally successful, its failure would reflect poorly on all pro-democracy forces.
Rizvi expressed BNP’s desire for the interim government’s success while questioning whether the government prioritizes its own success. He urged the government to focus on alleviating the public’s everyday suffering by prioritizing essential issues in their roadmap of action. He accused Sheikh Hasina of destabilizing the country by releasing conspiratorial audio messages and inciting Awami League members to conduct clandestine attacks and mass mobilizations.
Highlighting a specific incident, Rizvi described a violent attack by Awami miscreants on students and the public in Gazipur, during which they chanted the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan. He accused Jahangir, the former mayor of Gazipur, of masterminding the Awami League’s new project and criticized the government’s inability to arrest him. Rizvi also mentioned fugitive former IGP Benazir Ahmed’s alleged involvement in a virtual conspiratorial meeting with the fascist government, claiming that 90 percent of the police and administration support the Awami League. Despite these claims, Rizvi noted the administration’s silence on these conspiratorial activities.
Rizvi further alleged that, under Hasina’s directives, police were attacked in Tungipara and Gopalganj, and Abdul Wahab, president of Sujanagar Upazila Awami League in Pabna, was forcibly taken from a police vehicle. He accused Awami League terrorists of conducting nationwide terrorism and criticized the interim government’s failure to handle the situation strictly since assuming power on August 8.
In response to these issues, the BNP announced plans to hold rallies and processions in districts and metropolitan cities across the country from February 11 until the beginning of Ramadan. These demonstrations aim to demand the lowering of essential goods’ prices, improved law and order, and the immediate declaration of an election roadmap. The press conference was attended by BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Abdus Salam, Assistant Office Secretary Taiful Islam Tipu, and others.