Delhi now safe haven, head office of ‘Awami fascism’: Rizvi

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, senior joint secretary general of BNP addressing a tree plantation programme on DU campus on Monday 20 Jan 2025.

Dhaka, Jan 20 - BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that Delhi has become the central office for the ‘Awami fascists’ while India has turned into a safe haven for fascism.

Speaking at a tree plantation programme on Dhaka University campus on Monday, he also urged democratic parties to maintain a minimum unity among themselves to resist the resurgence of the ‘fallen fascist Awami League’.

“It seems our neighbouring country has become a safe home for fascism, and Delhi has become the central office for that (Awami) fascism. So, the fascists are not sitting idle. They continue their plots and conspiracies in various ways,” the BNP leader said.

He said the democratic forces must tackle such conspiracies through united efforts.

The Ziaur Rahman Foundation organised the 'Neem Tree Planting Programme' at Mall Chattar on Dhaka University campus to mark the 89th birth anniversary of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman.

From a democratic standpoint, Rizvi said while democratic political parties may criticise each other and engage in debates, there must be a minimum of unity among them. “If this unity does not exist, it will not be difficult for fascism to resurge.”

He also urged democratic parties to remain vigilant, ensuring that those who siphoned off the country's money abroad by keeping the economy locked in a vicious cycle, do not rise again. “All democratic forces must unite and observe these issues.”

Rizvi alleged that many trees were felled in the name of so-called development and mega projects, while many rivers and canals were occupied by land grabbers during the last 16 years of Sheikh Hasina’s rule, destroying biodiversity and the environment, and making the country uninhabitable.

“The land grabbers who fled the country after August 5, 2024, filled in rivers, canals, and uprooted trees. It has happened as when autocrats usurp power, they can never do anything good for the people,” he said.

The BNP leader also said the threat of global warming, caused by carbon dioxide emissions, primarily from developed countries, putting human lives at risk.

He stressed the need for a democratic atmosphere worldwide to allow people in every country to put pressure on their governments to take action on reducing the threat of global warming and making the world livable for all.

Rizvi called upon the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and other organisations to turn tree plantation into a strong social movement to protect biodiversity and the environment. - UNB