Nationalist forces will not surrender to anti-state conspiracies: Rizvi

BNP acting secretary general and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said nationalist forces will never surrender to any anti-state conspiracy or aggressive force.

“The nationalist forces will fight to the last drop of blood to protect the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.

He made the remarks while addressing a discussion organised by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at the Dhaka University Senate Bhaban on Wednesday afternoon, marking the seventh death anniversary of BUET student Abrar Fahad.

Recalling his conversation with Abrar’s father Md Barkat Ullah, Rizvi said he felt proud and emotional while sitting beside him at the event.

He said Abrar’s father told him that he had been a student of Rajshahi University and had voted for Rizvi in the 1990 RUCSU election, when Rizvi was elected vice-president.

Rizvi criticised the Awami League government, alleging that the country’s sovereignty had been weakened during its rule to protect the interests of a neighbouring country.

He said the government had openly acknowledged providing benefits to India, while Abrar’s “brave and sharp protest” against such policies was treated as his “real crime”.

Rizvi said Abrar’s killing was intended to frighten the entire nation, but the murder instead intensified public anger and protest.

Referring to the 2024 student-led mass movement, Rizvi said Abrar’s killing had awakened patriotic people and that the awakening ultimately led to the movement and the fall of the “fascist government” on 5 August.

Highlighting the sacrifices and history of Chhatra Dal’s movements, he said the organisation had repeatedly faced attacks and bloodshed on the streets but had maintained its independent political identity without resorting to secret or disguised politics.

Rizvi prayed for the eternal peace of Abrar’s soul and said his sacrifice had shown how the entire nation could stand against any conspiracy to compromise the country’s interests.

Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib chaired the discussion, while its General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir moderated it.