Rizvi urges vigilance to ensure peaceful Durga Puja celebrations and protect communal harmony
TBS Report
13 October, 2026, 04:30 pm
Last modified: 13 October, 2026, 04:34 pm
BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that a plot is underway to create anarchy, carry out bomb attacks and destabilise the country using money laundered abroad and concealed domestically during the Awami League regime.
"Defeated fascist forces seek to disrupt the country's progress by creating an unstable situation," he said while urging pro-democracy political parties and the public to remain vigilant.
He made the remarks at a discussion titled "The Role of Politicians and Professionals in the Long Anti-Autocracy Movement and the July Uprising", organised by the Bangladesh Janadhikar Party at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh auditorium in Dhaka today (13 October).
"The defeated fascist forces had possessed huge amounts of illicit money. Although a large portion of the money had been laundered abroad, some remained inside the country," Rizvi said.
He alleged that attempts were being made to destabilise the country by circulating the black money.
However, the current government and law enforcement agencies remained alert, and conspirators' plans were being foiled one after another, he added.
Criticising the economic activities of the previous Awami League government, the BNP leader said the banking, insurance and other sectors had been ruined during Sheikh Hasina's tenure.
He claimed that the country's defaulted loans had reached Tk6.07 lakh crore, alleging that the Awami League and people close to Sheikh Hasina had looted public money in the name of loans.
"Despite the huge debt burden and fragile economic situation, the current government is working to rebuild the country," Rizvi said.
Praising the role of young people and student leaders in the July Uprising, he said their extraordinary courage had paved the way for the restoration of democracy.
"Their contributions would be remembered with respect by the state and the nation for generations," he added.
Rizvi also urged political parties and the public to remain alert to possible conspiracies surrounding the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations.
Describing Bangladesh as a country with a thousand-year tradition of religious and communal harmony, he called on all political parties and civil society members to remain united and vigilant to ensure that the festival could be celebrated peacefully and safely.
Rizvi said, "No force would be allowed to undermine communal harmony."