Dhaka: BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday accused Jamaat-e-Islami of repeatedly maintaining secret alliances with ‘monstrous forces’ and warned that attempts to belittle the 1971 Liberation War would not be tolerated.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Rizvi made these remarks while addressing a protest procession organized by Muktijoddha Dal and Muktijoddha Projonmo Dal. The event was held to protest against Jamaat’s ‘arrogant statements and activities’ aimed at destabilizing Bangladesh. The procession began at the auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) and concluded in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan office, with Rizvi attending as the chief guest.
Rizvi emphasized that the country’s freedom allowed its people to speak freely, establish Bangla as the state language, and identify as Bangladeshis. He described these as the achievements of the 1971 Liberation War. Rizvi accused those who opposed the country’s independence of trying to tarnish its history and alleged that they informed the Pakistani occupation forces about the hideouts of freedom fighters during the war.
He further claimed that these groups have no history of heroism but only of collaboration, continuing their opportunistic politics even after independence. Rizvi accused Jamaat of repeatedly seeking favor from the Awami League, which he characterized as a ‘fascist, authoritarian one-party regime.’ He noted that Jamaat had previously formed alliances with the Awami League and participated in the 1986 election, later joining the election under HM Ershad.
Rizvi criticized Jamaat for remaining ‘underground and dormant’ for 17 years and later participating in the 2008 election, which he described as a ‘staged election,’ while pressuring BNP to participate. He questioned a Jamaat leader’s statement after August 5 about forgiving all Awami League members, asking whether the sacrifices of those killed during the July uprising would then become meaningless.
Rizvi also criticized Jamaat’s reported position on developing relations with a neighboring country, alleging that the country kills Bangladeshis along the border, holds back river water, and engages in anti-Bangladesh propaganda. Referring to an exhibition organized around the residence of Jamaat chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Rizvi alleged that it covered events from 1971 to the July uprising but omitted any photograph of Ziaur Rahman, whom he described as the ‘greatest freedom fighter’ and the ‘proclaimer of independence.’
Rizvi highlighted that 1971 is a source of immense pride for the people of Bangladesh, emphasizing that his generation is the successor to the aspiration for independence from that period. He stated that the July uprising is rooted in the spirit of 1971.
Concluding his speech, Rizvi warned that attempts to strategically portray one historic event as more significant than another would not succeed. He asserted that the nation knows how to protect its independence and that the citizens are always ready to defend it.