BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday criticised the interim government for its silence regarding reported "push-ins" by India and its inaction over calls for electoral reform.
Speaking at a rally organised by Bangladesh Nationalist Buddhist Forum in front of Jatiya Press Club, Rizvi accused India of "unjustly" sending its citizens across the Bangladesh border and condemned the interim government's failure to protest the incidents.
“India is pushing its people through borders—today in Satkhira, Kurigram, Khagrachari and Moulvibazar. This is a great injustice,” Rizvi told attendees during the event, held to mark Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community.
He asked pointedly, “Where is Khoda Bakhsh? Where is the Home Affairs Adviser’s Office? Where is the government?” accusing the authorities of continuing the same policies as the former Sheikh Hasina administration.
The BNP leader said the silence over these alleged border incidents dishonours the spirit of the country's independence. “A country where 30 lakh people died for freedom and 1,500 youth sacrificed their lives for democracy—how can it now accept this silence in the face of border violations?”
Rizvi also criticised the interim government for failing to announce a roadmap for free and fair elections, despite earlier promises and widespread public support for democratic reforms. He claimed that after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, citizens had expected swift electoral reforms—but now feel disappointed and suspicious.
“The people accepted the reforms and expected timely elections. BNP demanded it, cultural organisations demanded it. Yet the government remains unresponsive. Why? What is their true agenda?” Rizvi asked.
He further questioned how a former president, allegedly facing murder charges, was able to leave the country without interference from intelligence agencies.
“How did someone under investigation, carrying a red (diplomatic) passport, manage to escape?” Rizvi asked. He alleged that the individual had previously damaged Bangladesh's environment by constructing a road through a haor in Kishoreganj, a move he said represented “the same fascist mentality as Sheikh Hasina.”
Rizvi concluded his remarks by calling for accountability from both the government and security agencies, while reaffirming the BNP’s commitment to electoral reform and national sovereignty.
