Justice Needed for ‘Bloodthirsty Acts’ During Awami Rule: Rizvi

Acting Secretary General of the BNP Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that the “bloodthirsty acts” committed during the Awami League’s rule must be brought to justice. He made the remarks at a discussion titled “The Ongoing Crisis in the Country and What Patriotic Forces Should Do”, organised by the 12-Party Alliance at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club on Saturday.

Speaking about the political activities of the now-banned Awami League, Mr. Rizvi said the party was suddenly trying to re-emerge. He questioned whether the intelligence agencies and police administration were aware of how so many people had gathered.

Referring to a series of crises and technical failures in the country, the BNP acting secretary general said it was necessary to consider whether these incidents were merely accidents, acts of sabotage or part of a conspiracy. At the same time, he said it was necessary to investigate whether there was any conspiracy to obstruct the government’s public welfare programmes.

“There is a gas crisis in the country. Due to the war in the Middle East, the disruption of normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is also affecting fuel supplies. Technical problems have also emerged in the regasification operation in Maheshkhali. However, the government is working to resolve the crisis, and we hope the situation will return to normal soon,” he said.

Mentioning various public welfare initiatives of the government, he said four members of a Hindu family had been killed in Rangpur. The government was working quickly to ensure justice in the case. Similar incidents had occurred in the past, and it had taken a long time for legal proceedings to be completed.

He said the government had taken various programmes to ensure social security. Different support programmes, including the Family Card, were being introduced. Referring to the risk of an environmental disaster in the northwestern region due to the Farakka Barrage, he said the government had once again taken up a canal excavation programme after considering the issue. A target has been set to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals within five years. So far, 1,000 kilometres of canals have been excavated in six months.

Speaking about the role of the 12-Party Alliance,Mr. Rizvi said the alliance had always led movements and struggles in favour of the country and democracy and had played a responsible role in the national interest during difficult times. “The opposition will criticise the government in and outside Parliament, but such criticism should not cross the limits of responsibility,” he said.

Recalling those killed and injured in the 2024 movement,Mr. Rizvi said, “No one can be allowed to establish violent politics again over their blood.” He called on everyone to remain alert and vigilant to prevent a recurrence of fascism.

Regarding the law on the maintenance and rights of parents,Mr. Rizvi said the basic structure of Muslim inheritance law had not been changed. Rather, the law sought to ensure that elderly parents could live peacefully until the end of their lives. Speaking about freedom of expression, the BNP acting secretary general said there would be freedom of criticism and expression, but it should not cross the limits.

Referring to the ongoing discussion over Islamic inheritance law, he said that in many cases children did not properly look after their parents. He said the law introduced on the issue had been enacted on the basis of a unanimous decision. The meeting was chaired by Jatiya Party (Zafar) Chairman Mustafa Jamal Haider and jointly moderated by Bangladesh Kalyan Party Secretary General Abu Hanif and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Organising Secretary Mufti Zakir Hossain.

Among those who addressed the meeting were 12-Party Alliance spokesperson and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh Secretary General Dr Maulana Mufti Mahfuzuddin Ikram, Bangladesh Kalyan Party Chairman Md Shamsuddin Parvez, Jatiya Party Co-Chairman Ahsan Habib Lincoln, Islami Oikya Jote Secretary General Maulana Abdul Karim, Islamic Party Chairman Abu Taher Chowdhury, United Liberal Party Chairman Aminul Islam, Bangladesh LDP Chairman MA Bashar, PNP Chairman Firoz Mohammad Liton, Naya Ganatantrik Party Chairman Master Abdul Mannan and Islami Oikya Jote Senior Vice-Chairman and freedom fighter Shawkat Amin, among other leaders.

Earlier, Mr. Rizvi addressed the inaugural session of a colourful rally organised in the capital’s Naya Paltan to mark the 48th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal. He said, “Today the BNP is in power. What more do we have to gain? I, you and all of you—each of us is a part of the government. It is not necessary for everyone to get a position.”

He said BNP’s presence in government had allowed its leaders and activists to speak and move around freely without fear. In the past, however, the leaders and activists of the Mohila Dal had faced widespread repression. Referring to the political persecution faced by Mohila Dal leaders in the past, Rizvi said, “Do you not remember how many times Afroza Abbas, Sultana Ahmed and many leaders here were sent to jail? How many times were they taken away, how many times were they tortured, how easily were they arrested? You surely remember how they were taken to the DB office, brought before the court from there, and later kept in jail.”

He said members of the Mohila Dal were now also part of the BNP-led government. Their representatives had become members of Parliament and ministers. He described this as a matter of pride for the party’s leaders and activists. Mr. Rizvi later announced the inauguration of the colourful rally marking the 48th founding anniversary of the Mohila Dal. Mohila Dal President Afroza Abbas, General Secretary Sultana Ahmed and leaders and activists from different levels of the organisation were present.