Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman’s sacrifices paved way for July uprising: Rizvi

BNP acting secretary general and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said the long-standing sacrifices of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman laid the groundwork for the July uprising in 2024.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a memorial meeting organised by the Shaheed Jehad Smriti Parishad at the National Press Club in the capital on Saturday, marking the 36th martyrdom anniversary of Nazir Uddin Jehad, a student leader killed during the anti-autocracy movement in 1990.

Rizvi recalled that Jehad had travelled from Sirajganj to join the movement against then military ruler HM Ershad and sacrificed his life. He said the nine-year-long movement, marked by sacrifices such as Jehad’s, had led to the fall of the autocratic regime and helped nurture the movement to restore democracy.

The 2024 uprising did not emerge overnight, Rizvi said, adding that Khaleda Zia’s uncompromising stance despite prolonged persecution, including false cases, physical torture and imprisonment, had helped pave the way for democracy. He also credited Tarique Rahman with building a far-sighted movement through courageous leadership while living abroad.

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Criticising the previous government, the BNP leader said the defeated autocratic forces of 1990 and the defeated fascist forces of 2024 were linked.

He alleged that the country had been plundered over the past 17 years, with banks depleted, thousands of crores of taka siphoned abroad, and enforced disappearances and killings used as political tools.

He claimed that collaborators of fascism remained entrenched in various levels of the administration and society.

Rizvi urged the government to identify corrupt officials and those involved in repression and take strict action against them.

He said there should be no leniency towards those responsible for extrajudicial killings, murder and the embezzlement of public funds, adding that the people would support the government if it took firm action against wrongdoing.