Rizvi alleges AL-Jamaat link in anti-BNP conspiracy

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday accused the Awami League, currently facing a ban, of joining hands with a “secretive party” to spread misinformation and conspire against the BNP, alleging striking similarities between the statements and activities of the Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami.

He made the allegations at a rally in Shantinagar in the capital on Thursday afternoon, following a leaflet distribution campaign to raise awareness about dengue prevention.

Referring to Jamaat, Rizvi alleged that the Awami League had long peddled misinformation against the BNP and that another “secretive party” had now joined the campaign. 

He pointed to the party’s position on “forgiving” the Awami League as a possible sign of their connection, claiming that its conduct mirrored that of the “defeated forces”.

He cited the party’s position on “forgiving” the Awami League as an example of a possible connection between the two. He also claimed that the party’s behaviour resembled that of the “defeated forces”.

Rizvi recalled past allegations that the BNP was involved in militancy and that people of other faiths would be unsafe if the party came to power.

He said the administration led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had shown that conspiracies could not succeed if the government remained alert.

On the recently held Sharadiya Durga Puja, Rizvi said BNP leaders and activists had worked to ensure security at puja mandaps across the country.

He claimed that Durga Puja was celebrated in the most peaceful and festive atmosphere in the past 17 to 18 years. He added that visitors from a neighbouring country had also praised the environment.

Speaking about dengue prevention, Rizvi said the government and the BNP were conducting coordinated awareness campaigns.

He said leaflets prepared with advice from medical experts were being distributed to inform people about dengue prevention and the steps to take if someone became infected. He described the leaflets as a source of essential health guidance.

Rizvi said that, on the Prime Minister’s directive, free diagnostic tests for dengue had been made available at government hospitals. He also claimed that sufficient saline supplies were available and cleanliness drives were underway across the country.

On the government's economic programmes, Rizvi said its promises were being implemented with due attention.
Citing economists, he claimed that the distribution of family cards and farmers’ cards could reduce the national poverty rate by a further five percentage points this year.