Rizvi voices concern over corruption allegations against advisers
I know that most advisers are not involved in corruption, but accusations of corruption are being raised, and the scale of that corruption is serious, he says
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday (26 April) expressed concerns over serious corruption allegations involving certain advisers of the interim government.
"I know that most advisers are not involved in corruption, but accusations of corruption are being raised, and the scale of that corruption is serious," he said while addressing a discussion.
The Nationalist Research Forum (NRF) organised the programme titled "60 lakh accused in false cases under fascism: How far the redress" at the Jatiya Press Club.
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Rizvi said allegations have been levelled against the Health Adviser's Personal Assistant (PA) and another adviser's Assistant Private Secretary (APS), describing it as a "terrible thing."
He said their party has deep respect for the students' movement and their pivotal role in the mass uprising against Sheikh Hasina's regime.
"Students would have done well if they had raised their voices on campuses against the corruption in state, politics, society and bureaucracy. Their strong voices are needed to address the many injustices and misdeeds that have infiltrated the state," the BNP leader said.
He said the students should have exercised greater caution upon becoming part of the government and holding power.
He questioned, "Why should an allegation of corruption worth a hundred of crores of taka be brought against their APSs? Why should they be accused of being involved in transfer trading?"
Rizvi also said allegations that some leaders of Students Against Discrimination (SAD) are exploiting their influence in various ministries for personal gain.
"Just as there are parliamentary standing committees, there are also ministerial committees of students. This is tarnishing the image of the students. Why should they do this?"
Rizvi also alleged that students have formed a committee to oversee railways ministry.
Referring to a former Director General of Railways, he claimed that SAD leaders were involved in black marketing of tickets worth several hundred crores during Ramadan ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
He questioned, "Why should students play the role of a watchdog in a department like the Railways? They are supposed to be on campus, where they will speak out against injustice, corruption, and irregularities."
The BNP leader said the interim government should have addressed these issues with stern measures.
Rizvi accused the leaders and activists of the Awami League of amassing substantial wealth through widespread looting.
He alleged that Sheikh Hasina's regime implicated around 60 lakh BNP leaders and activists in false cases to suppress opposition and continue her authoritarian rule and plundering. "This was the manifestation of torture by the fascist regime."
He questioned why these cases have not been withdrawn, despite eight months having passed since the interim government assumed power.
Earlier, addressing the programme, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman's adviser Mahadi Amin said there are countries in the world whose entire population is less than 60 lakh. "But in Bangladesh, 60 lakh BNP members are accused in various cases."
Rizvi echoed Mahadi's sentiment by comparing the figure to Denmark's population, saying, "Denmark has around 50 lakh people. Yet, here, we have more accused BNP members than the population of an entire country."
He also queried why the cases against Chief Adviser Yunus were dismissed, yet similar steps have not been taken regarding the false cases against the 60 lakh political leaders and activists.
"These cases should have been archived in the courts during these eight months of the interim government's tenure... these cases should be disposed of," he observed.
'Judges who aided Hasina's fascist regime must face trial'
Rizvi said the judges who abetted in establishing Sheikh Hasina's fascist regime in Bangladesh must face trial to prevent such abuse of the judiciary in the future.
"The judiciary is one of the key elements that helped establish fascism. Justice Khairul Haque, Justice Enayetur Rahim, Justice Asaduzzaman and countless others are among those who contributed to the establishment of fascism," he told the discussion.
The BNP leader said Justice Asaduzzaman unlawfully sentenced a patriotic leader like Khaleda Zia in a false case, while Justice Enayetur Rahim doubled her jail term.
"Why won't those judges be punished? The judges of fascism must face trial. If their trial is ensured, no one in the future will dare to use the judiciary to carry out their evil intentions and impose undemocratic repression on the people," he said.
Drawing a comparison to post-World War II trials, Rizvi said at the Nuremberg Trials, those who served as judges in Hitler's court and sentenced millions of prisoners to death at his command without listening to any logic were brought to justice.
"If they could be tried, then why can't those who prolonged the fascism of Sheikh Hasina be tried now? Their trial must be ensured," he said.
The BNP leader urged the interim government to remain alert so that it does not get infected by the virus of the previous fascist regime of Sheikh Hasina.
He said the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has been running the country for the last eight months, as Sheikh Hasina fled the country on 5 August last year in the face of a mass uprising.
"The people expect the interim government to restore the free and fair elections that Sheikh Hasina tried to usurp and make invisible," the BNP leader said.
He questioned why the interim government is keeping people in uncertainty over the election. "Why is the election swinging like a pendulum between December and June? Make it clear to the people."
BNP's International Affairs Secretary Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim presented the keynote paper at the programme, held with NRF Convener Syed Abdal Ahmed in the chair.
