Awami League buying crude bombs with looted money: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has claimed that the Awami League is financing acts of sabotage, including the purchase of cocktails, with money looted from banks and public projects.

Advocate Rizvi made the remarks at a press conference at the BNP's central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka, today (17 November).

"Those who committed crimes and gave directives during the previous fascist era were now responsible for setting fire to buses," he said.

"Cocktails are being bought with money looted from various banks. The funding for the sabotage is coming from the money embezzled from the Padma Bridge and Metro Rail projects," he said.

Claiming that BNP supporters had no link to arson incidents, Rizvi said that during Hasina's tenure, the media was controlled, and past claims against them were based on misinformation.

"The evidence of who carries out arson is now visible," he said.

He further commented that instructions issued by Sheikh Hasina from India were "not legal" and questioned why India was "allowing this to happen".

He said the people of Bangladesh did not view such actions favourably.

Rizvi also said that, as in the previous year, instructions had been issued not to hold birthday events for BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday (20 November), and that any funds set aside for celebrations should be donated.

He said the BNP wanted a peaceful Bangladesh with space for all opinions and a fair voting process.

He added that appropriate punishment for past crimes would serve as a precedent and claimed the public now expected fair justice.

BNP leaders Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel, Abdus Salam Azad, Sayedul Alam Bablu and others were present.