BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday alleged that interim government advisers are trying to create a division between the anti-fascist movement and the recent July uprising.
“The July uprising is the final manifestation of the movement that the pro-democracy political parties, led by BNP, carried out for 15 years,” the BNP leader said while addressing a human chain in front of the party’s Naya Paltan central office, organized by the Jatiotabadi Mohila Dal, demanding the trial of those responsible for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl from Magura.
He said many BNP leaders and workers, including Ilias Ali, were subjected to enforced disappearances over 15 years for speaking up in favour of free and fair elections and for seeking to liberate Bangladesh from fascism.
“Finally, children, youths and teenagers sacrificed their lives in July and August and ousted Sheikh Hasina. So I would like to ask the advisers, why are you drawing a dividing line between this 15/16-year-long movement and the July movement?” Rizvi said.
He called upon advisers to focus on working for the welfare of people and lowering the prices of essentials, particularly rice.
“An adviser told students that if the country continues to be run this way for the next five years, the country will be better. That means there is no need for an election,” the BNP leader said.
He said elections are crucial to ensuring democracy, the rule of law, justice and freedom of the press.
“What are you teaching them (students)? You are leading them towards fascism or dictatorship. This is unjustified,” Rizvi said.
He said his party wants Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus to hold a free and fair election that upholds the people’s confidence in him.
"People have such deep faith that you will hand over power to the elected representatives of the people through a free and fair election. But if there is a delay, it will take a different turn," the BNP leader warned.
Rizvi said the prevailing discontent in the country is a result of Hasina’s misrule. “We must uproot the distorted fruits of this misrule and establish a pure society,” he said.
