BNP warns of legal action over disorder surrounding Hasina’s return

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has warned that anyone creating disorder over ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s return to Bangladesh will face strict legal action.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan today (26 October), Rizvi also cautioned that those seeking political gains through an alliance with defeated forces would face serious questions from the public.

He made the remarks following a joint meeting with leaders of the BNP’s affiliated and associate organisations.

At the press conference, Rizvi announced a series of programmes to observe National Revolution and Solidarity Day on 7 November.

The BNP will hoist party flags at 6am at its central office and party offices nationwide. At 11am, party leaders and activists will pay tribute, lay wreaths and recite the Quran at the graves of party founder and former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.

The party will also organise a central rally in Dhaka, while its district and upazila units have been instructed to hold similar rallies nationwide.

A central discussion meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 November. The party will also publish special posters, while its affiliated organisations, including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, will organise art exhibitions and other social and political programmes.

Recalling the events of 7 November 1975, Rizvi said they had helped restore multiparty democracy, press freedom and freedom of expression. He also linked the day’s significance to the July-August 2024 movement, saying students, workers and members of the public had united to bring down the previous government.