Rizvi warns of planned cultural aggression in Bangladesh

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has warned of planned cultural aggression in Bangladesh, saying the country must draw on its history of struggle and sacrifice to resist attempts to undermine its cultural identity.

Rizvi made the remarks as the chief guest at a seminar titled “The Crisis of Bangladeshi Culture: Exploring Its Nature” at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital today (24 October). Sammilita Sangskritik Oikya organised the event.

He said the people of Bangladesh had an inherent capacity to resist such interference, drawing strength from the nation’s history of struggle and sacrifices for the Bengali language.

Rizvi alleged that new words were being deliberately introduced into Bengali while long-established expressions were being displaced.

He cited what he described as attempts to replace familiar words such as “killing”, “blood” and “corpse” with alternative terms, calling the practice part of a broader imperialist effort to reshape the language.

He said the country’s history of struggle and the sacrifices made for the Bengali language had equipped its people to resist cultural aggression.

Discussing the country’s historical development and nationalism, Rizvi argued that the 19th-century Bengal Renaissance was not a comprehensive renaissance, claiming it largely centred on Hindu revivalism while neglecting the educational and social reform needs of the predominantly Muslim peasant population at the time.

He said Bangladesh’s geographical and political identity, described as “Bangladeshi nationalism”, had evolved through historical events and the struggles of 1947 and 1971.

Rizvi also criticised sections of the intellectual community, alleging that some had supported fascism during periods of political crisis.

Drawing a comparison with intellectuals who supported Adolf Hitler, he said some intellectuals in Bangladesh had remained silent over enforced disappearances, abductions and the denial of voting rights during periods of authoritarian rule.

He said patriotic intellectuals should stand alongside ordinary people and speak the truth.

Sammilita Sangskritik Oikya President MA Malek, a freedom fighter and BNP secretary for development of marginalised communities, chaired the seminar, while its General Secretary Ruhul Amin moderated the event.

Educationist and researcher National Professor Dr Mahbub Ullah spoke as the chief discussant, while Dr Mustafa Majid presented the keynote paper.