Jatiya Nagorik Party lacks a political philosophy: Rizvi

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Senior Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has criticized the newly formed Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), stating that despite its lofty rhetoric, it lacks a clear political philosophy. 

Rizvi made these remarks on Saturday (March 1) during a discussion titled "The Sacrifice and Leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman in the Struggle to Restore Democracy" and the unveiling of the book "Nandita Netri Khaleda Zia" (Beloved Leader Khaleda Zia). 

The event was organized by the Nationalist Research Foundation (NRF) at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in Dhaka.

Rizvi said, "Today, some intellectuals claim that BNP was born while in power. They forget that they are creating a new narrative in politics. They try to bring up Ershad and Ziaur Rahman, but this is incorrect. Zia was on a different level; he introduced a new philosophy. Many are forming new parties now. I was present at the launch of one such party yesterday. They spoke many good words about the state, but I did not find any political philosophy in their discourse."

Highlighting Ziaur Rahman's contributions, Rizvi noted that Zia dismantled one-party rule and ushered in multi-party democracy. "This was something any democratic leader would have done, and Ziaur Rahman did it. He did not come to power by overthrowing a democratic ruler. It was Sheikh Mujib who killed democracy by establishing BAKSAL. Ziaur Rahman gave birth to multi-party democracy."

Rizvi also emphasized the role of Ziaur Rahman and the BNP in fostering a culture of tolerance and pluralism in Bangladesh. "Who created the space for diverse opinions and tolerance in democracy? Ziaur Rahman lit the torch of democracy from the dark cave of BAKSAL. Some intellectuals say the BNP was also formed while in power, but there are a thousand differences between the birth of BNP and other parties. BNP established a celebrated democratic system, which is why, when democracy faced crisis again, Begum Khaleda Zia reignited the torch of democracy and led the victory of multi-party democracy in the 1990s."

He added, "From 2006 to 2024, the inspiration that kept us going—enduring imprisonment, repeated remands, and torture—came from Begum Khaleda Zia. Our colleague Salahuddin Ahmed (a member of the BNP Standing Committee) spent two months in a dark cell where he could not distinguish day from night. Who inspired us to endure such oppression? It was Begum Khaleda Zia."

The discussion was chaired by former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University and former Ambassador Professor Dr. Anowarullah Chowdhury. Other attendees included BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel, renowned chemist Professor Dr. Tajmeri SA Islam, Student Affairs Secretary Rafiqul Islam Bakul, Professor Dr. Jamal Uddin Runu of Jahangirnagar University's Environmental Science Department, Acting Chairman's Advisor Dr. Mahadi Amin, Human Rights Secretary Nasir Uddin Asim, Co-Volunteer Affairs Secretary Abdul Qadir Bhuiyan Jewel, and President of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Kader Gani Chowdhury, among others.