How did banned Awami League hold procession in Gulshan, Rizvi asks

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday questioned how the banned Awami League managed to organise a procession in Dhaka’s Gulshan, asking what the intelligence agencies and police were doing.

“You can see that a banned political party is suddenly trying to make a comeback. But how are they doing it? What are the intelligence agencies doing? They gathered a number of people. Did the intelligence agencies not know about it? What is the police administration doing?” he said.

Rizvi was speaking at a discussion organised by the 12-party alliance at the National Press Club on the country’s ongoing crisis and the role of patriotic forces.

He also questioned whether the Awami League should be allowed to return to politics without facing justice for its actions during the July Uprising.

“The Awami League is a political party, but look at what it did. It displayed bloodthirsty behaviour and shed the blood of students from primary schools, high schools, colleges and universities. Rickshaw pullers, workers and ordinary people were killed in broad daylight. Will there be no justice for them?” Rizvi said.

“If they want to return with the same vengeful face and the same character, what will happen to this country?” he said.

Rizvi said democracy would be at risk if the Awami League returns, alleging that the party had long been intolerant of opposition and dissent.

“Not a single person who believes in democracy will be safe in this country. They have none of the qualities of a democratic political force,” he said.

Referring to the party’s history, Rizvi said violence had become part of the Awami League’s political culture.

He accused the former Awami League government of using excessive force against protesters during the July Uprising to retain power.

“They did not hesitate to kill their own country’s children simply to remain in power. Until the last day, the law enforcement agencies were told to shoot people on sight. The then prime minister herself said, ‘Shoot on sight,’” Rizvi said.

He also criticised the elections held under the previous Awami League government, describing them as a “midnight election” and a “dummy election”.

Rizvi said a state leader should prioritise protecting citizens and share in their suffering, but alleged that the former government instead used state power to protect its grip on power.

He recalled the deaths of young protesters during the July Uprising, including Mugdho, Faiyaz, Ahnaj and Abu Sayed, and questioned whether the Awami League could return to politics after the bloodshed.

“Have we forgotten the children who came out onto the streets in school uniforms, carrying school bags on one shoulder and lunch boxes on the other, only to be shot? Their white shirts were turned red with blood,” he said.

“Will they come back to do politics in this country and create violence again? Violence means they cannot tolerate the opposition. This has been their characteristic from the very beginning—they simply cannot tolerate the opposition or opposing views,” Rizvi said.