One or 2 parties
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founder Ziaur Rahman at his grave in Dhaka yesterday.
“After Sheikh Hasina’s rule, didn’t we witness the embezzlement of a bank by the successors of looters like S Alam?” he asked.
“Do they think we don’t understand who they are referring to when they claim that one extortionist has left, and they don’t want to see another?” he said.
He further alleged that the same political party is engaged in widespread corruption at local levels.
“In every district and village, your people are involved in occupying CNG stands, controlling river ports, and tenders,” he said.
Referring to violence during Hasina’s tenure, Rizvi said, “We witnessed groups like ‘Chhapati League’, ‘Helmet League’, and ‘Gun League’. Now, people also know about the ‘Khur Party’ and the ‘Payer Rog Kata Party’. Do you think people don’t recognise who these individuals are?”
The BNP leader accused the party of distorting history and undermining the BNP’s contributions to the country’s independence and democracy.
“What is your achievement from 1971? You opposed 1971. It is a matter of pride for the BNP that Ziaur Rahman declared independence. The glory of 1971 and 1990 belongs to the BNP,” he said.
Rizvi also criticised the Islamist party’s decision to participate in the 1986 election under HM Ershad’s regime. The BNP refused to participate in elections under the autocratic rule of Ershad.
“You joined Ershad’s elections with Sheikh Hasina in 1986, betraying the people,” the BNP leader said.
Rizvi also accused the party of misusing religion for political purposes.
“You do politics in the name of Islam ... but the core value of Islam is to keep one’s commitments,” he said.
About the anti-BNP propaganda, Rizvi said, “Not just a neighbouring country is spreading propaganda and misinformation and trying to stigmatise [the BNP], but one or two political parties in the country are also trying to fish in troubled waters to make their political gains.”
“You want to improve relations with India, which means you don’t care about right and wrong. You engage in racketeering in the name of politics. They (Awami League) killed key leaders of your party in the name of judicial process, and now you are saying you will grant them amnesty.”
“All democratic forces should have been united today. Instead, these political parties are creating divisions to exploit the situation for their gain,” Rizvi said.
“The people of this country know who are the patriots, and who believe in independence, sovereignty, and multiparty democracy,” he added.
Later at night, the Jamaat in a statement quoted the party’s Assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan as saying that it was not clear what Rizvi was trying to achieve with such allegations against Jamaat.
“Jamaat was never involved in ‘Rog Kata’ politics and fishing in troubled waters,” it said and added that Jamaat is always against fascism and India’s hegemony.