He said these things at a discussion meeting titled 'Role of university teachers in overthrowing the fascist government' at Nawab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of Dhaka University on Saturday morning. Dhaka University Shada Dal and UYAB organized the meeting on the occasion of the second anniversary of the mass uprising-2024.
Rizvi said, recently a 'fugitive fascist' spoke at an event of the South Asian Foreign Journalists Club in Delhi. Although both BNP and the government protested the incident, India said it was organized by an independent institution—so they have no scope to intervene.
Rizvi raised the question, 'Can an international institution hold any kind of event in Delhi without the government's permission? A fugitive fascist will speak there and the government will say we have nothing to do here—is that acceptable?'
He reminded that during Sheikh Hasina's rule, Lord Carlile, who was engaged in the cases of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, could not come to Bangladesh from London and was not allowed to hold a press conference in Delhi. He said, 'If there was scope for government intervention in the case of a foreigner at that time, then why is it being said now that the government has nothing to do regarding a fugitive fascist's speech in Delhi?' He described India's stance as 'double standards'.
Rizvi said BNP has always said Bangladesh has friends abroad, but there is no question of accepting subservience to anyone. International relations must be conducted by prioritizing sovereignty and national interests.
Regarding July, he said it was not an agitation of any individual or group; 15-20 rickshaw pullers and 95 workers among ordinary people sacrificed their lives. It was the culmination of a 17-year continuous movement, reflecting the people's historic resistance against aggressive and colonial forces.
Regarding the recent 'July is not over yet' exhibition held at the residence of the Jamaat Ameer, Rizvi commented that although Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech and pictures of the Liberation War were displayed, the absence of any picture or speech of the proclaimer of independence Ziaur Rahman was mysterious and significant.
He posed the question: After August 5, there was talk of building relations with India and forgiving Awami League—is the current situation an extension of that? He warned that July's sacrifice, the history of the Liberation War and sovereignty—none of these can be viewed in fragments.
