BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday alleged that attacks on shrines could be linked to a bigger international conspiracy, urging the interim government to look into it.
"The attacks on shrines and the burning of a dead body could be part of a bigger international conspiracy. We strongly condemn these acts," the BNP leader said while speaking at a milad mahfil, organised at the party's Nayapaltan central office, on the occasion of Eid-e-Miladunnabi.
Rizvi demanded that the interim government launch an investigation into what he believes could be another wave of conspiracy against the country.
Rizvi said such incidents as attacking shrines and burning dead bodies had never been heard of, even during the Pakistan era.
"We are supposed to have progressed with time. So, why are these things happening all of a sudden now? These are the kinds of things Sheikh Hasina used to do," he said.
Rizvi also criticised what he called false propaganda against the BNP.
"Whenever BNP is in power, we are accused of being pro-Pakistan and of giving shelter to Islamist militants. These are false accusations that have never been proven," he said.
In an indirect reference to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, he said the party is trying to portray BNP as a pro-India party to gain politically.
"You call us pro-India, but after 5 August, it was you who claimed a special relationship with India. During the 1971 war, when the nation was fighting for its freedom, it was you who supported the Pakistani military," the BNP leader said.
Pointing at the deposed prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, Rizvi said she had once promised to run the country according to the Charter of Medina.
"But what did we see? One minister owns 140 houses in London, while 60 kathas of land in Purbachal have been allocated in her children's names. There were also plans to build 30 bungalows on 72 bighas of public land near Chattogram airport — while poor people die without treatment. During COVID, many died due to a lack of oxygen," he said.
Rizvi claimed that BNP is a patriotic party whose Chairperson, Khaleda Zia, remained in the country and suffered in jail in false cases.
"We are not a foreign-backed party. We are a pro-Bangladesh party. We are the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)," he said.
Referring to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Rizvi said, "Despite the extreme heat today, we are gathered to honour the great man who spread Allah's message across the world. If we truly followed even a part of his teachings, our society would be free from injustice, violence, and bloodshed."
He regretted that while Muslims claim to follow the Prophet, "in reality, they neither follow nor try to emulate him, and that is the greatest failure of the Muslim world."
Rizvi said the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) united a deeply divided Arab society and offered a solution that pleased everyone. "Today we talk about the Charter of Medina, but in reality, we follow none of it."
On this day of celebration and prayer," Rizvi said, "let us take inspiration from the life of the Prophet who brought the message of Allah. If we follow his example, corruption, greed, and hatred will disappear from society. We can live honestly and peace will return."
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