Why should BNP take Jatiyo Party's responsibility, asks Rizvi
Rizvi also criticised Jatiyo Party for its role played during Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League regime
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has rejected calls for his party to take responsibility for the Jatiyo Party's political actions.
"The BNP is not in state power and no free fair election has been held yet. What responsibility are you talking about?... Why are you talking about taking responsibility? Why should the BNP take Jatiyo Party's responsibility? Who are you?" he said today (2 September), responding to Jatiyo Party Secretary General Shameem Haider Patwary's recent remark that the BNP should take responsibility so his party can do politics.
Addressing a discussion meeting in the capital, Rizvi criticised Jatiyo Party for its role played during Sheikh Hasina's Awami League regime. "Where was the Jatiyo Party while countless BNP leaders and activists, including Ilias Ali, disappeared?"
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Criticising Jatiyo Party Chairman GM Quader, Rizvi said, "Before the 2024 election, he went to India. On return, when journalists asked him about his discussions there, he replied he would not disclose anything without their [India's] permission. Are you the leader of a political party in India or Bangladesh?"
Rizvi said his party does not believe in mobocracy or any form of illegal persecution.
"We don't believe in any mob culture. Who does politics or not is a matter of law or the government. BNP has never created mob culture anywhere, nor does it believe in mobocracy. BNP never believes in any kind of illegal oppression and torture under any circumstances," he said.
The discussion was organised at the National Press Club by Uttaranchal Student Forum, marking the 18th anniversary of the release of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman from prison.
On 3 September 2008, Tarique Rahman was freed on bail after serving 18 months in jail following his arrest during the 1/11 political changeover.
Mentioning Tarique , Rizvi said the purpose of taking him to prison was to keep this nation subdued so that a neighbouring country can gain dominance over the economy, culture and all people of Bangladesh.
"That is why Tarique Rahman was tortured," he said.
At the event, Rizvi also announced five top leaders of the newly formed committee of the student forum.
The five leaders are its president Imtiaz Raja Saurav of Dhaka University (hailed from Kurigram), senior vice president Farzana Akhter Rimi of Jagannath University (Bogura), general secretary Mujahidul Haque of Jagannath University (Bogura), senior joint general secretary Mohammad Abir Kazi of Dhaka University (Bogura) and organising secretary Naim Islam of South Asian University (Rangpur).
