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Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi demanded on Saturday that the interim government hold trial of those responsible for the mass killing during the July-August student-people uprising against Sheikh Hasina regime.
He said that without ensuring trial of the killings the much coveted reforms by the interim government may face a stumble.
Addressing the advisers of the interim government, he said, "How will you (interim government) carry out reforms without holding trial of those responsible for the killings of students and mass people (during the anti- Sheikh Hasina movement)."
"You talk about bringing about reforms in the administration and judiciary. How will you do this (reforms) as long as the collaborators of ousted Sheikh Hasina remain in the administration?," he told the media after visiting martyr Zahiduzzaman Tanvir's (who was killed during the student-mass uprising) residence in the capital to convey sympathy to his family members upon directive of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
He said that the collaborators of Sheikh Hasina still remained in the administration and police department and they were responsible for pilling of dead bodies during the July-August student-mass revolution.
"What reforms would they carry out? They (collaborators of Sheikh Hasina) could create obstacle at every steps. They are trustful of Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina has nurtured them," he maintained.
He said that Sheikh Hasina and her collaborators had siphoned off huge money from the country abroad.
He also said that there were no Union Parishad elections held literally in the past as those who became chairmen gave money to the local Awami League leaders and members of parliament (MPs) of the respective areas.
He called upon the interim government to take measures against such irregularities over UP elections.
"The blood that was shed by students and mass people will go in vain unless proper action is taken against collaborators of deposed autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina," he stated.
Mr Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that the collaborators of Awami League get enraged if the people of the country say anything rational against India.
He said that India gives shelter to Sheikh Hasina despite the fact that she and her police force killed so many people during the July-August (2024) movement.
BNP leader Kafil Uddin and Dhaka University Prof Saiful Islam were present, among others.
Meanwhile, BNP chairperson's adviser Zainul Abdin Farroque said on Saturday that a new conspiracy is being hatched against Bangladesh.
He said that Indian dominance on Bangladesh was yet to be over.
"We (people) couldn't say and protest against India over the last 15 plus years due to Awami League. They (Indian BSF) hung dead body of Felani on the border fence and still we ( Bangladesh) are yet to get justice despite repeated protests," he said at a discussion and doa mahfil at Feni Samity Office at Purana Paltan in the capital seeking salvation of the departed souls of those who sacrificed their lives during the student-mass uprising against the autocratic regime. Bangladesh Muslim Marriage Registrar Association organised the event.
"I can strongly say that Awami League was never a pro-liberation force. Awami League didn't want War of Liberation and country's independence. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to be prime minister of Pakistan through dialogue with Yahhiya Khan and Bhutto," he said.
He said, "India helped us during our war of independence and that doesn't mean that we should be under Delhi's subjugation after breaking the same (subjugation) from Pindi ( Rawalpindi, Pakistan)."
Addressing the Chief Adviser of the interim government, he said, "People have many expectations to you (Dr Muhammad Yunus). We know that you need time to fulfill these expectations. BNP will give you that expected time. But the required timeline (for fulfilling expectations) would be determined by you (Dr Yunus) and the political parties (those who took stand against Sheikh Hasina)."
Mr Zainul Abdin Faroque who also has served as the chief whip of the opposition said, "The ghosts of the ousted autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina still remain at different places," he stated.
He questioned why were the cases (false) filed against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman not withdrawn?.
He called upon the interim government to help withdraw all cases filed against Tarique Rahman and pave the way for his return to Bangladesh.
He hoped that Tarique Rahman would set a rare example in the history of Bangladesh politics.
Member of BNP national executive committee Hafez Maulana Shah Mohammad Nesarul Haque and convener of Ulema Dal Maulana Kazi Selim Reza were present, among others.