Movement will continue to restore people's voting rights: Rizvi

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Thursday that they will continue their movement until the fall of the government for establishing people’s voting and other rights.

“BNP leaders and activists are now on the streets and they will remain so until the fall of the government. Our movement will continue until people’s voting and other rights are established,” he said while distributing pet bottled pure drinking water and rehydration oral saline (ROS) among ordinary people at Badda area in the capital amid the sweltering heatwave currently sweeping across the country.

“We (BNP leaders and activists) are here (Bangladesh) just for in and out from (landing and coming out from) jail. We are still on the streets despite oppression (by the government). We wouldn’t bow down to any pressure or oppression from the government,” he warned.

“Obaidul Quader and their associates used to tell lies like Srabon (a Bengali month that mostly sees rains) out of their frustrations,” he said.  

“They (influential people of the ruling class) have looted BASIC Bank, involved with Hall Mark scam, extracted money from Padma Bridge and flyovers and siphoned off (the money) abroad. Many of them have built their second homes in Malaysia, Canada and Australia and sent their offsprings, near and dear ones and relatives there (abroad),” he continued.

He alleged the government for not doing anything for the welfare of the workers/labourers rather four labourers were killed as they demanded salaries. He said that labour leader Aminul was killed in a police shooting. 

He said that people didn't forget the Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashion tragedies where several hundred garment workers lost their lives.

Rizvi blamed the government for not doing anything for the betterment of the working class people amid this ongoing scorching heat passing through the country.

He said that BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman had dug canals, excavated rivers, planted trees and arranged irrigation and other welfare activities for the people. 

People in Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts could not get water for irrigation and the present dummy government is responsible for this, Rizvi continued.

Responding to Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, Mr Rizvi said that his party leaders and workers (BNP) are not being exhausted and they are not leaving the country.

BNP leader Barkat Ali presided over the event which was also attended by member secretary of Dhaka north BNP Aminul Haque and health affairs secretary of the party Rafiqul Islam, among others.

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