BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has described threats to stop remittance flow as being against the interests of the country and its people, terming expatriate income a crucial driving force of the national economy.
He said any threat to halt this income is harmful to the livelihoods of millions of families and the country’s economic activities.
Speaking at the prize-giving ceremony and cultural function of the “Komol Kuri” essay competition at Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University on Friday, Rizvi highlighted the importance of educational and creative activities in student politics.
Alongside student politics, he addressed political reactions surrounding an individual arrested over an airport incident as well as threats regarding remittance flow.
Rizvi said, “The statement about stopping remittance is not only anti-country, but anti-humanity and contrary to the interests of the country’s people.”
He explained that Bangladeshis living abroad send money to support their families, with millions of households relying on this income. Therefore, threatening to block remittances amounts to disrupting the nation’s development and economic activities.
Questioning the threat to stop remittance, Rizvi pointed out that overseas Bangladeshis are not all supporters of a single political party.
He emphasised that expatriates include supporters of various political parties as well as individuals with no political affiliation. He questioned under what authority remittances could be stopped.
Referring to the person arrested over the airport incident, Rizvi stated that while institutional mismanagement can be criticised and protests can be staged against injustice and irregularities, attempting to assault or threaten an officer on duty is unacceptable.
He added that action can be taken against such acts under the existing laws of the land.
Rizvi mentioned that the arrested individual was previously associated with BNP, but added that he had long failed to adhere to party discipline. He alleged that the person attempted to assault a military officer on duty at the airport and laid hands on others.
Addressing leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, Rizvi said a situation might arise in future where they themselves would be forced to expel the individual.
Outlining BNP’s political stance, Rizvi alleged that Jamaat had at various times in the past prioritised party interest over state interest. In contrast, he claimed that BNP has always given priority to the interests of the state and the people.
