India must take responsibility if push-in continues: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has warned India that the neighbouring country would have to face consequences if they continue to disrespect Bangladesh's independence by continuing with their push-in initiatives.

"The people of this country are fighters. They can create a July, an August. They created the 1971, and 7 November. The masters in Delhi seem to have forgotten that the 18 crores people of this country know how to resist and how to protest. So, I want to warn them—if you continue to ignore and disrespect Bangladesh's independence by pushing people in like this, you will have to bear the consequences," he said at an event in Gazipur today (14 June).

"Why didn't you [India] carry out push-ins during Sheikh Hasina's regime?" Rizvi said, mentioning that just yesterday, 44 people were pushed into Bangladesh. 

Among them, several had Indian citizenship cards and that the BGB caught four or five of them with those cards, he claimed.

Addressing Indian authorities, he further said, "Why are you carrying out push-ins? These are Indian nationals. By pushing them forcibly, is the neighbouring country trying to provoke conflict with Bangladesh? … Every day 20, 25, even 40 individuals are being pushed in claiming they're your foreign citizens."

He then addressed the interim government, saying, "I urge the government to give a stern response. Bangladesh is a sovereign state; it has an independent flag and strong sovereignty."

Rizvi responds to Tarique-Yunus meeting reactions

Without naming anyone, Rizvi criticised some political parties saying, "Some of our political allies made statements recently. Some claimed the London meeting might compromise neutrality. But tell me, when have you ever acted with neutrality? You didn't support the Pakistan movement, opposed the people in 1971, joined elections with Hasina in 1986, and collaborated with her against the BNP government in 1995."

He added, "You recently said after 5 August that you would forgive the Awami League and strengthen ties with India. So what exactly is your politics?"

He continued, "It seems today that this meeting ignited a burning discomfort in the hearts of many. Why does this cause such discomfort? What is your motive?"

The comment comes in the backdrop of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami terming the meeting between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman a breach of political norms.

Jamaat claimed that the interim government expressed special affection for a party, which has undermined the chief adviser's impartiality.

February polls, laundered money remain a concern, says Rizvi 

Referring to the national election timeline, Rizvi said the appropriate time would be when there are no religious observances, no Eid, no Pahela Baishakh. 

"If the London meeting resulted in a consensus that the election will be held in the first or second week of February — when there's no fasting, no Eid, no public holidays, and the weather is pleasant and dry — that's the traditional time for mass movements and elections in this country," he added.

Referring to the recent seizure of some of former land minister Saifuzzaman's assets by the UK crime agency, he accused Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League government of being accountable for the laundered money. 

"They never wanted Bangladesh. They wanted to sign it over to others, loot everything, and ensure luxury abroad for the Sheikh family and a few Awami League elites for generations to come. That was always their goal."