BNP Acting Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has called for national unity to resist what he described as conspiracies against Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty.
Speaking at a human chain and protest rally in front of the National Press Club, Rizvi said a new political environment had emerged following the July 2024 uprising and the 2025 national election.
He said the BNP and its alliance are running the state under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, while parliamentary democracy is taking shape.
The rally, organised by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal and Muktijoddha Projonmo, protested an alleged conspiracy against Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty involving ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Rizvi said the government is committed to keeping democracy functional, ensuring freedom of expression, protecting civil liberties and maintaining judicial independence. He claimed that opposition leaders have been allowed to criticise the government freely inside and outside parliament.
Describing the BNP’s current position as a continuation of its long struggle for democracy under Khaleda Zia, Rizvi said the party remains committed to multiparty democracy.
Regarding Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s decision not to attend BRICS despite receiving an invitation, Rizvi said the decision demonstrated that Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty were being given priority.
Addressing the gas and fuel crisis, Rizvi attributed the disruption to difficulties in importing LNG, fuel and diesel amid the US-Iran conflict. He said the government was seeking alternative supplies from Indonesia, Malaysia and Qatar to maintain gas pressure and keep industries and households running.
Referring to recent developments at Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and elsewhere, Rizvi called for greater vigilance, saying any attempt to undermine the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War would be an insult to the country’s martyrs.
He urged political and social groups to uphold the spirit and achievements of the Liberation War.
Muktijoddha Dal President Bir Muktijoddha Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat presided over the programme, while Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Projonmo Convener and State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain attended as the special guest.
Leaders and activists of the two organisations participated in the human chain and protest rally.
