BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has accused the banned Awami League and an unnamed “secretive party” of jointly conspiring against the BNP and spreading propaganda.
He alleged that the two groups shared similar behaviour and rhetoric and had continued to spread propaganda against the BNP, as they had done in the past.
Rizvi made the remarks on Thursday after distributing dengue awareness leaflets at a brief rally in Shantinagar, Dhaka.
“The Awami League was a party involved in propaganda. Now another secretive party has joined it. There is evidence of a relationship between them,” he said, adding that the behaviour of the two groups was similar.
Referring to what he described as past propaganda against the BNP, Rizvi said the party had previously been portrayed as a militant political organisation and accused of failing to ensure the safety of people of other faiths if it came to power.
He said the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had demonstrated that conspirators could not implement their plans if the authorities remained vigilant.
Rizvi also praised BNP leaders and activists for their role in ensuring security at Durga Puja venues across the country.
He said this year’s Sharadiya Durga Puja had been celebrated in a peaceful and festive atmosphere, describing it as the most peaceful celebration in the past 17-18 years. Visitors from neighbouring countries had also praised the arrangements, he added.
On dengue prevention, Rizvi said the government and the BNP had taken coordinated initiatives to raise public awareness.
He said awareness leaflets prepared with advice from renowned physicians were being distributed among the public to provide guidance on dengue prevention and the steps to take if someone became infected.
Rizvi added that the leaflets would serve as practical guidelines for preventing the disease and managing cases.
He further said that, on the prime minister’s instructions, free dengue testing had been introduced at government hospitals to ensure patients could access testing without financial barriers.
Adequate supplies of intravenous saline had also been ensured, while extensive cleanliness drives were being conducted across the country.
BNP Joint Secretary General Abdus Salam Azad, Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rafiqul Islam, Organising Secretary Saidul Haque Babul, Volunteer Affairs Secretary Mir Sarfat Ali Sapu, and leaders and activists of various affiliated organisations were also present at the leaflet distribution programme.