Advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury is a vice chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a former member of the Jatiya Sangsad. He has served as Minister of Youth and Sports. He recently spoke with Dhaka Tribune’s Tanvir Hasan about the current political situation, activities of the interim government, India-Bangladesh relations, and the BNP’s plans.
Dhaka Tribune: How would you evaluate the first three months of the interim government?
Nitai Roy Chowdhury: The country was completely devastated in the Awami League regime. All institutions were shattered, banks looted and emptied. The civil administration, police force, and even the judiciary have been undermined. The fascists have used them in their interest. The Awami League has fled, leaving the country in ruins. In this context, the current government is doing as much as possible. Beyond this, there’s not much more the interim government can do; they are trying their best. I remain optimistic about their efforts.
Do you think the advisory council needs to be expanded?
The issue of expanding the advisory council is an internal matter for the government. However, the BNP is supporting them to ensure success. If the government wishes to increase the number of advisers, that is their prerogative, but I believe there’s no need for an oversized cabinet. Simply adding more advisers doesn’t guarantee increased productivity. The previous fascist Sheikh Hasina also formed a government with a large cabinet. There were many ministers, deputy ministers, and state ministers; yet, very little work was done-only looting took place.
There is a narrative that minorities are safer under Awami League rule. What do you say about this?
When the Awami League takes power, religious communalism often seems to rise, partly fueled by competition over land, property, and businesses. We’ve seen Awami League members seize properties from Hindu communities, and reports indicate attacks on Hindus after August 5. But we need to examine who exactly has been targeted. Many of those facing backlash now were beneficiaries of the authoritarian regime.
This isn’t solely a Hindu-Muslim issue; it’s a political conflict, not a communal one. It’s a struggle against authoritarianism by farmers, workers, and the general public—including Muslims, Hindus, and others—who have come together in resistance. Sheikh Hasina and her supporters fled after causing devastation, leaving the public seeking justice, though this hasn’t erupted into widespread violence. Obaidul Quader predicted that a million people would die if the Awami League fell, but barely ten have lost their lives. Durga Puja this year saw more celebrations than ever, without any incidents.
What special measures will the BNP take for minorities if it forms a government in future?
The BNP does not recognize the notion of religious minorities or majorities; we believe in equal rights for all in Bangladesh. The rights of a Muslim are no different from those of a Hindu. The BNP stands firmly for equal rights for everyone. Most of the population in Bangladesh lives in rural areas, where communalism is less prevalent. Even in urban settings, communalism is minimal. However, we have observed the Awami League fostering communalism across various dimensions. If the BNP comes to power, we will ensure that religious minorities face no discrimination whatsoever as we do not endorse any form of discrimination.
What steps are needed to bridge the current gap between Bangladesh and India?
Since the interim government took office, several high-level meetings have been held with the Indian government. A friendly relationship is mutually beneficial and crucial for both Bangladesh and India. India now recognizes that fostering strong ties with Bangladesh also means positively engaging with those who truly represent the Bangladeshi people. Currently, the BNP represents 80% of the population, so building a good relationship with the BNP is essential to strengthening ties with Bangladesh . As neighboring countries, we believe in cultivating a robust and positive relationship with India.
Is there an improvement in BNP’s relationship with India, which is known to be Awami League’s ally?
The notion that India is solely a friend of the Awami League is a narrative pushed by the Awami League itself. Even some actions taken by India have contributed to this perception among the populace. We have witnessed India supporting the Awami League government in ways detrimental to the interests of the people. Over the past 16 years, during manipulated elections, India has backed the Awami League. These factors have led people to perceive India as a friend of the Awami League rather than of the Bangladeshi people. India has come to realize that its actions have not been just. The sooner India acknowledges this, the better it will be for all parties involved. The BNP believes in fostering good relations with India, but we aim to do so while prioritizing Bangladesh's interests. The BNP desires an effective and mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations.
Do you think the Awami League should be banned?
The Awami League has been involved in abduction, murder, and looting for the past 16 years. They have smuggled vast amounts of money abroad and have killed thousands of students during protests. Each of these incidents must be addressed through justice. If justice is served, there will be no looters left in the Awami League. In truth, beyond these looters, there is no one else in the Awami League. Good people within the Awami League have not been able to stand up during their rule. We demand justice for the criminals within the Awami League. We do not consider banning the Awami League a priority. We are not in favor of a ban; we advocate justice for the crimes committed.
Is the BNP currently coordinating with the Jamaat on the election demand, or is there a conflict between them?
The Jamaat is a separate political entity with distinct ideals and a different approach to politics. There is no alignment between its politics and ours. Our demand is for the earliest possible election following necessary reforms. The BNP prioritizes the interests of the country over its own party interests. The Awami League does not act in the interests of the people or the nation. The Awami League does not meet the criteria of a political party; they operate as a terrorist and looting organization. They have fled after plundering Bangladesh; they have no standing here.
What measures are the BNP taking against allegations of extortions?
The BNP does not support looting. Many individuals from the Awami League have infiltrated the BNP, masquerading as party members. Some BNP members have continued to collaborate with them and have engaged in looting in certain areas. The BNP is the only party where our chairman, Tarique Rahman, has declared that anyone involved in criminal activities will be permanently expelled from the party. We will also hand them over to the police. Has the Awami League ever made such a declaration? They have not. Sheikh Hasina’s associates looted, yet she has not reported anyone to the police. She even claims that her domestic worker is a supposed Tk500 crore owner. How delightful that her employee is a Tk500 crore owner! This underscores the magnitude of their plunder. Sheikh Hasina represents a level of fascism greater than that of the Russian Tsars. Such fascism will not be witnessed again in history.
Where do you want to see Bangladesh in the next 10 years?
In the next 10 years, I envision Bangladesh becoming the Singapore of Asia. Bangladesh will prosper like Vietnam. Bangladesh is a country of immense potential. We have been unable to move forward due to a lack of leadership. Since Sheikh Mujib’s time, whenever the Awami League has been in power, they have plundered national assets every time. They will never find a place in Bangladesh again. There is no space for fascism in Bangladesh. We will unite to build this country as a corruption-free, communalism-free, developed, and prosperous nation. Once again, the whole world will flock to Bengal as it did in the past.
