BNP acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said many opposition figures are currently criticizing the government and its top leadership, but no one is being forcibly disappeared as a result — which he called a genuine expression of free speech and real democracy.
He made the remarks Wednesday at a discussion event at the National Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium at the National Press Club in the capital. The event was organized by the Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum to mark the 19th anniversary of BNP acting Chairman Tareque Rahman’s release from prison.
Rizvi said Tareque Rahman was new to politics at the time of his imprisonment, and that the main purpose of jailing him was to prevent nationalist politics from standing upright again. He described it not as a minor or purely domestic conspiracy, but as the joint expression of a domestic and international plot.
He said Tareque Rahman carries forward the legacy of Ziaur Rahman’s achievements, integrity, dedication, and record on production, development, foreign policy, internal peace and order, and making the nation self-sufficient in food.
Recalling the past, Rizvi said the 1972-1975 period was marked by famine, plunder, violence, suppression of the opposition, bloodshed, and the shutting down of newspapers and political parties, pushing people into a suffocating situation. He said Ziaur Rahman opened the doors of democracy from that point, giving people the freedom to speak without fear and raise their voices openly. He said Khaleda Zia and Tareque Rahman represent the guarantee of that democratic achievement.
He said that when God is on one’s side and the people stand with someone, no conspiracy can defeat them. He said Tareque Rahman was subjected not only to psychological torment and imprisonment at the time, but also to brutal physical torture, the scars of which he still carries today.
Praising Tareque Rahman’s leadership, Rizvi said that since 2018 he has united and inspired the entire nation, leading the movement against what Rizvi described as Sheikh Hasina’s harsh misrule and for reopening the door to democracy. He said Tareque Rahman has stood by grassroots leaders and activists at the ward, union, upazila and district levels, as well as families of victims of enforced disappearance, killing and torture, delivering regular sympathy and support to affected families through the organization “Amra BNP Paribar” and BNP’s affiliated bodies.
He said extensive disinformation campaigns have been run against Tareque Rahman, and continue to this day. But he said the public can see that as prime minister, Tareque Rahman has not simply stayed home or slept through his days, and is fulfilling every promise made to the people with dedication and sincerity.
Rizvi said various domestic conspiracies were active in efforts to stop Khaleda Zia and Tareque Rahman, but that it has now been proven that no one can cause harm when the people and God are on one’s side.
He said that from 2018 onward, with the goal of restoring democracy, Tareque Rahman maintained contact with people oppressed by authoritarian and what Rizvi called fascist rule in every region of the country, from villages to cities, and dedicated himself to the work of protecting the nation.
Rizvi alleged that Hasina showed some visible work in the name of mega-projects while siphoning the rest of the money abroad, which he said ended up in the pockets of her party’s leaders and activists. He claimed, by contrast, that Tareque Rahman is working to fulfill a pledge to return the people’s money to the people, citing initiatives such as the “Krishok Card” for farmers, the “Family Card” for households, and a nationwide tree-planting program.
Rizvi said many opposition figures are currently criticizing the government and its top leadership, but that no one is being forcibly disappeared — which he called a genuine expression of free speech and real democracy.
He said Tareque Rahman’s development and reform plan for the next five years needs to be spread among students and people at every level of society.
Rizvi also said Tareque Rahman is following the same principled path that his respected parents began with a far-sighted commitment to building the nation.
The event was chaired by the prime minister’s additional press secretary, Atikur Rahman Rumon. State Minister for Land and adviser to the Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum, Barrister Mir Helal, spoke as special guest. Also present were leaders and activists of the Northeastern and Uttaranchal Chhatra Forums, along with representatives of BNP and its affiliated organizations at various levels.