শনিবার, ১২ সেপ্টেম্বর ২০২৬, ০৮:৫১ অপরাহ্ন
DHAKA, Sept 12, 2026 (BSS) – BNP Acting Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today called for unity among the democratic forces committed to protecting the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy.
“Those who are working in the interest of the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy must all move forward with a pledge to protect the country in unity,” he said.
Rizvi made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled “The Country’s Ongoing Crisis and What Patriotic Forces Should Do” at the Abdus Salam Auditorium of the National Press Club this noon.
The 12-party alliance organised the discussion.
Speaking about the role of opposition parties, Rizvi said the opposition would continue to raise issues in Parliament and outside it and announce various programmes.
“But if there is excessive uproar over something imaginary or pointless, something that has no relation to reality, the common people do not take it well,” he said.
“There will be dissent, there will be criticism against oneself. But that criticism must certainly be constructive. It should not be propaganda or character assassination,” he added.
Regarding the gas, fuel and electricity crisis, Rizvi said the government, which has been in office for only six months, should not be held responsible for the crisis.
“Due to the war in the Middle East, the impact of the global situation has fallen on the country’s fuel system. Tarique Rahman’s government is not responsible for this. This is a global crisis,” he said.
Highlighting the government’s social protection and public welfare initiatives, he said marginalised, helpless, poor and destitute people were receiving benefits through various cards under social safety-net programmes.
He said the old-age allowance had been increased from Tk 600 to Tk 700, while the number of beneficiaries had risen from 61 lakh to 62 lakh.
“All of these are the fulfillment of one social protection commitment after another and the government is doing those things one by one,” Rizvi said.
Referring to the food self-sufficiency programme of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Rizvi said Bangladesh faced a severe food crisis after independence in 1972.
“People ate tree leaves, and mothers with their children fell into dire circumstances,” he said.
He said Ziaur Rahman subsequently introduced people-oriented programmes that helped Bangladesh achieve food self-sufficiency and take steps towards exporting food.
Referring to various welfare-oriented initiatives of the government, Rizvi questioned whether conspiracies were being hatched to obstruct public welfare programmes.
He alleged that the Awami League had demonstrated “bloodthirsty behavior” through its past activities, accusing the party of killing students, rickshaw pullers, workers and other common people.
Rizvi demanded justice for those killed.
Chairman of Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) and head of the 12-party alliance Mustafa Jamal Haider chaired the discussion. Top leaders of the 12-party alliance and other national leaders also spoke at the meeting.
