Photo: Collected
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday questioned why the Awami League should not be allowed to do politics under the leadership of those who have a clean image. “There is a lot of discussion about whether the Awami League will be able to do politics, but there is no talk about whether those responsible for the genocide will be brought to justice,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while distributing Eid gifts to the poor and destitute in the Dhaka’s Faidabad Uttar Khan area.
Rizvi said if the criminals within the Awami League are prosecuted, and the people then decide to give the party a chance to engage in politics, no one should oppose it. “If individuals who come to lead the Awami League have no involvement in crimes, the killing of students, looting, or laundering public money, then why can't such an Awami League engage in politics?” he said.
The BNP leader, however, said Awami League leaders and their associates involved in killings and oppression must be brought to justice.
“Didn't people see who committed the genocide? Which police officer, which OC, which AC, which DC played a role there? Which Awami League leader ordered the bloodshed during the mass movement? Which Awami League leader ordered the destruction and suppression of the movement? This trial must be ensured without delay,” he said.
The BNP leader expressed frustration that those who laundered money, as well as those responsible for killing children and teenagers, have not yet been tried. “Why have we not tried those who killed more than 200 children, teenagers, young students, workers, and rickshaw pullers? We must ensure exemplary punishment for them.”
Rizvi also cast doubt on whether Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina truly believes in Allah, suggesting her god was money. "A person whose god is money cannot do good work as they can only indulge in looting and siphoning off money," he said.
He said much of the looting and financial misappropriation has been carried out by Sheikh Hasina, her relatives, and her favoured businessmen and their associates. “Let us all ensure that these murderers, who not only killed the democratic system but also destroyed all institutions, sold the independence of Bangladesh, and killed countless children, adolescents, youths, and workers to stay in power, are brought to justice,” the BNP leader said.
In a democratic country, he said everyone’s right to engage in politics should be determined through democratic methods and practices. Rizvi said those who were involved in fascism, as well as those who collaborated with it and took advantage of it, must face justice so that fascism will never rise again.
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