The ruling BNP and its associate bodies held protest rallies across the country on Tuesday against the banned Awami League, warning that there is no scope for the resurgence of fascism in Bangladesh.
Leaders at the rallies said the people and democratic forces remain united, and any indication or evil activity of fascism must be resisted.
At a brief rally in Nayapaltan, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Political Adviser to the Prime Minister Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said Sheikh Hasina had snatched away elections and formed a government of misrule.
“The people will not support the return of the reign of abduction,” he said. “In one liberation war, 30 lakh lives were lost, 2 lakh mothers and sisters were abused. Will you enslave that nation? Make them servants of Delhi? This will not happen. The people of this country will not allow it.”
Rizvi alleged that those who had snatched away people’s right to live are now trying to create instability using stolen and laundered money.
He claimed that after a long time, a free and fair election was held with the people’s mandate, and conspiracies are being hatched against the democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman.
Rizvi claimed that in the four months of the current government, no abduction, crossfire, or false cases have occurred. “Has any abduction occurred? No. Has any crossfire occurred? No. Has anyone been imprisoned in any false case? No. Except for miscreants and social criminals,” he said.
Noting that the country is advancing towards progress, Rizvi said conspiracies are underway to stop progress, prosperity, peace, multi-party democracy, and freedom of expression. “But that is no longer possible,” he said.
The protest procession in Dhaka started from the BNP central office in Nayapaltan and concluded with a brief rally.
Separately, Swechchhasebak Dal Dhaka Metropolitan South held a procession in the capital, with leaders calling for resistance against all terrorist activities.
Jagannath University Chhatra Dal also held a protest procession against Chhatra League activities, while Private University Chhatra Dal held a procession in Banani with participation from 45-50 private universities.
BNP Health Affairs Secretary Rafiqul Islam, former Member Secretary of the Fisheries Party Abdul Rahim, and leaders from various levels of BNP and its associate bodies were present at the rallies.
