Dhaka: BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's decision not to attend the BRICS Summit in India underscored Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty, instilling a sense of pride among its citizens. He emphasized that Tarique Rahman was invited to the summit as the chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), and not as Bangladesh's prime minister.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Rizvi remarked that inviting Tarique Rahman in a capacity other than as the prime minister was inappropriate, asserting, "Tarique Rahman is the prime minister of an independent and sovereign country. You will not invite him as prime minister and expect him to sit on the sidelines. That cannot happen." He noted that political analysts view the decision as a testament to Bangladesh's sovereignty.
Rizvi made these comments while addressing a human chain and protest rally organized by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal and Muktijuddher Projonmo in front of the Jatiya Press Club. The rally protested against what organizers claimed was a conspiracy against Bangladesh's independence by Hasina, allegedly at India's behest.
Criticizing those questioning Rahman's absence from the BRICS Summit, Rizvi highlighted what he described as conspiratorial acts against Bangladesh. He pointed to the Adani Power Plant in Jharkhand, India, which supplies electricity to Bangladesh, and questioned the coincidence of a unit breakdown following Rahman's decision not to attend the summit.
Rizvi also criticized India for not extraditing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina despite repeated requests from the Bangladesh government. He alleged that individuals accused of killing democracy activists have found refuge in India, referencing a former major involved in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's assassination who was eventually extradited for trial.
He questioned, "If you could hand over that major, why are you not handing over those accused of killing around 1,400 people?" Rizvi accused India of plotting against Bangladesh's political leadership while publicly promoting friendly relations, stating, "Face to face, you speak very sweetly. But the web of conspiracy you are creating behind the scenes centring on Sheikh Hasina is very clear."
Rizvi also highlighted positive economic indicators amidst the crisis, particularly noting remittance inflows and foreign exchange reserves, and emphasized the planned management of the economy despite global challenges. He warned against efforts to revert the country to pre-1971 conditions and stressed that nationalist forces would defend the achievements of the War of Liberation and democracy.