Those behind arson, bomb attacks are enemies of independence, democracy: Rizvi

The BNP’s Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said those involved in arson and bomb attacks are enemies of Bangladesh’s independence and democracy.

Addressing a protest rally in Dhaka’s Shahbagh on Thursday evening (24 September), Rizvi said newspapers had reported that instructions for the recent incidents were coming from a foreign number.

“Whose telephone number is it? Who is directing these terrorist activities? The phone number is from a neighbouring country. Then [you should] understand how deep the conspiracy goes,” he said.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal organised the rally to protest what it described as a conspiracy to destabilise the country through “planned terrorism”. Earlier in the afternoon, the organisation brought out a procession from the Central Shaheed Minar and marched through Dhaka University campus before ending at Shahbagh.

Rizvi, who is also the prime minister’s political and industries adviser, said an elected government would never want to cause suffering to the people.

“After coming to power, a war has started,” he said, adding that fuel prices were supposed to go up much earlier, but efforts were made to protect people from it.

“If gas becomes available and ships carrying fuel start arriving, prices will be adjusted again,” he added.

BNP Joint Secretary General and Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee said, “We have seen the Awami League’s anarchy and its fascist role. Today, this organisation is completely banned in Bangladesh. We have seen its corruption and misrule.”

He said this banned organisation had been involved in another conspiracy for some time to create instability in the country.

“They fled on 5 August [2024] and are involved in conspiracies from abroad. Many inside the country are also involved in conspiracies with another evil force,” he said.