People of Bangladesh have indomitable spirit to resist misrule: Rizvi

The people of Bangladesh possess an indomitable spirit to resist misrule, Prime Minister's Political Affairs Adviser and BNP Standing Committee member Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said today (16 August).

Speaking at a programme titled "The Spirit of July and Tomorrow's Bangladesh" at the National University Senate Hall in Gazipur, he said students had led the movement, with learners from primary schools to universities contributing to it.

He said the wider public also stood behind the students.

Alongside students, many workers, rickshaw pullers, restaurant cooks and journalists lost their lives, Rizvi said.

Describing the Awami League's rule as brutal misrule, he said people from different professions eventually joined the student-led movement to oppose it.

"People do not always take to the streets immediately against misrule. They first observe the situation. But the people of Bangladesh have an indomitable spirit to resist oppression," Rizvi said.

The PM's adviser said people in Bangladesh had repeatedly protested against authoritarian rule throughout history and had never accepted misrule for long.

Rizvi also said people had rejected those who, in his words, sacrificed the country's sovereignty to remain in power.

He praised Begum Khaleda Zia, saying she had continued that resistance and united the nation through courageous leadership.

According to Rizvi, Khaleda had worked consistently to uphold democracy and independence despite facing political persecution.

He alleged that various dominant forces had been unable to tolerate her political position, leading to her imprisonment and other forms of harassment.

He further claimed that Khaleda's health had deteriorated during her time in prison and accused the previous government of carrying out enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and torture in the name of remand.

"Sheikh Hasina has no parallel among fascists around the world," he said.