Defeated force provides false info to NY Times: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that the "defeated force" influenced The New York Times to publish a report by providing "false" information about Bangladesh.

"The allies of fascism own thousands of crores of illegal money. They are trying to stigmatise Bangladesh by using their illicit money," Rizvi said while talking to the media at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the city.

The BNP leader claimed that extremism has not risen in Bangladesh; rather fascism has been curbed.

He said people are freely practicing their religion and expressing their views.

"They celebrated the Eid (festival) without fear, unlike in the past under Sheikh Hasina's rule.

In the past, no one could celebrate Eid with comfort, he said.

Rizvi accused the ruling Awami League of spreading misinformation globally.

Sheikh Hasina staged the so-called anti-militancy operations as a political strategy to cling to power, which was even mentioned in the book of a former IGP, he said.

"Awami League is not sitting idle, rather spending black money to tarnish the image of Bangladesh…. Awami League is doing subversive activities," he said.

Referring to the killings during the 2024 July mass uprising, the BNP leader said there was no sign of remorse in Sheikh Hasina's statements regarding the way Mugdhah Faiyazs was shot dead on her order. 

"Rather, Awami League leaders who have fled abroad are trying to destabilise the country," he said.

He said Awami League's allies are everywhere in the administration.

He also criticised certain advisers of the interim government saying that some advisers are conspiring against BNP. 

"An advisor had conspired against BNP in 2007 as well. He is doing it this time too," he said.

The BNP leader said a farmer committed suicide in Meherpur after failing to get a fair price for onions, bit the advisers are silent on this issue. 

"Had the government broken the syndicate, farmers would have received fair prices for their products," he said.

Noting that 20-25 people were killed in road accidents in the last two days, Rizvi said that had the administration worked hard, many people would not have lost their lives on the roads.

"It is essential to introduce a democratic system in the country. The government needs to be accountable. It is ill-intentioned that some advisers are defaming the BNP by ignoring their own works," he said.

The BNP senior joint secretary general urged the government to arrange the election by conducting necessary electoral reforms as soon as possible.

"An electoral government is a legitimate government. Any delay in the election is not acceptable to common people. If the specific date of the elections is not clarified, it will create confusion," said Rizvi.