BNP Standing Committee Member and Political Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said no fascist leader in the world can be compared with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in terms of what he described as her “fascist rule”.
“Among the fascists, no one in the world can be compared with Sheikh Hasina. She does not match any of the other fascists either,” Rizvi said on Sunday.
He was speaking at a programme titled “The Spirit of July and Bangladesh of Tomorrow” at the Senate Hall of the National University in Gazipur. The university organised the event to mark the second anniversary of the July 2024 uprising.
Rizvi said students had led the July movement, with students from primary schools to universities playing a role. People from different sections of society also supported the movement, he said.
He paid tribute to those killed during the protests, saying that alongside the students who made “heroic sacrifices”, workers, rickshaw pullers, hotel cooks and journalists also lost their lives.
“People from different professions and social groups eventually took to the streets under the leadership of students against a brutal and hellish regime,” he said.
Rizvi said people do not always immediately take to the streets against oppressive rule, as they initially observe the situation. But, he added, the people of Bangladesh have an “indomitable strength” to resist oppression.
Referring to the country’s history, he said Bangladeshis had repeatedly protested against and resisted oppressive rule. He also recalled the period of British rule, saying Bengal had been a prosperous region and that the East India Company expanded its influence in the region through trade.
Rizvi also referred to Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, saying that contrary to claims that he was weak-willed, he had defeated the British twice and recaptured Calcutta before conspiracies from within changed the situation.
He alleged that those who had sacrificed the country’s sovereignty to remain in power had not been accepted by the people.
Rizvi praised BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, saying she had maintained the struggle against such policies and united the nation through what he described as courageous leadership.
He said Khaleda Zia had faced political repression and imprisonment because of her position on democracy and independence.
“An otherwise healthy person went to prison and came out in a wheelchair,” Rizvi said, alleging that various attempts had been made to harm her.
He also alleged that enforced disappearances, killings and torture in the name of remand were among the forms of repression carried out during the previous government.
National University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ASM Amanullah chaired the programme. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Lutfur Rahman delivered the welcome address, while Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Treasurer Prof Dr Md Nazmul Hossain also spoke at the event.
