BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday said the speech delivered by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly reflected the aspirations of peace-loving people across the world.
“I congratulate and thank Tarique Rahman for his speech. He echoed the feelings of peace-loving people around the world at the 81st session of the world’s largest organization, the United Nations,” he said.
Rizvi was speaking at a protest rally after the Jummah prayer organized by the Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal in the Baitul Mukarram area of the capital.
He said Tarique Rahman represents the third generation of his family to address the United Nations.
“His father delivered a speech there in 1980, his mother delivered a speech in 1992, and today their eldest son Tarique Rahman delivered his speech there,” he said.
The BNP leader said Tarique Rahman’s message was about replacing weapons and destructive weapons with reason and argument, diplomacy, education and humanity as the tools of change.
“What was his message? Nothing else but this: instead of weapons, instead of destructive weapons, let reason and argument, diplomacy, education and humanity be the tools of change,” he said.
Describing the speech as “an extraordinary statement”, Rizvi said Tarique Rahman also called for relations between every country and every other country to be based on equal dignity and mutual respect.
He said Tarique Rahman again reiterated that establishing an independent Palestinian state was a demand of people across the world.
Rizvi said Tarique Rahman also called for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh to return to their own country with dignity.
He said the prime minister also spoke on various other issues, including economic development.
The BNP leader said people across the world want peace, not war.
“When there is war, the prices of goods rise, food prices rise, fuel prices rise and gas prices rise. Electricity becomes unavailable, mills and factories shut down and people become unemployed,” he said.
Rizvi urged people not to be afraid of difficulties. “Let storms come, let winds blow. Do not be afraid,” he said.
He said the BNP government is working for the people, their welfare and social protection.
The acting BNP secretary general said there is no place in Bangladesh for forces that are against the country, democracy, independence and sovereignty.
He alleged that some forces want to turn Bangladesh into a colony and a subservient state.
“The Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal and BNP will build strong barricades against them on streets, at intersections and across the country,” Rizvi said.