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People Will Resist if Fascism Resurfaces: Rizvi
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, speaking on the occasion of Ekushey February, stated that if fascism or dictatorship reemerges in the country, the people will once again take to the streets in protest.
“The spirit of Ekushey February is an enduring consciousness that will never fade. If dictatorship resurfaces, it will ignite the youth and the people to resist,” he said, after laying a wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar in honor of the Language Movement Martyrs.
Rizvi emphasized that the spirit of February 21, born from the Language Movement, is a revolutionary force that has guided the nation for generations and cannot be destroyed.
Reflecting on the significance of Ekushey, Rizvi called it the first step toward national independence, paving the way for the War of Independence. "Whenever we were under a dictatorship and democracy was denied, the events of '52 inspired us to resist tyranny. Over the past 17 years, we fought tirelessly, many leaders and activists disappeared, and many were killed. Ultimately, the youth-led resistance forced the oppressive government to flee," he said.
Rizvi reminded the current government of its duty to hold a free and fair election, ensuring that the youth—who have never had the opportunity to vote—will be able to do so. "For 17 years, elections were manipulated. The government must restore public trust by holding a transparent election," he added.
The BNP leader stressed that national elections should take priority over local elections. "The interim government should focus on returning power to the people. It is the people's right to decide when local elections should be held," he said, recalling how during BNP’s tenure, fair elections were conducted in cities like Chattogram, Sylhet, and Dhaka.
Addressing rumors circulating on social media about BNP leadership, Rizvi clarified that claims about Tarique Rahman becoming Prime Minister and Begum Khaleda Zia becoming President were not official BNP positions. "These may be personal opinions but not our official stance," he stated.
Earlier, Rizvi led a procession from Balaka Cinema Hall to Azimpur graveyard, where BNP leaders paid respects at the graves of the language martyrs. The group then moved to the Central Shaheed Minar, wearing black badges as a sign of solidarity. Rizvi and senior BNP leaders, including Aman Ullah Aman, Abdus Salam, and others, paid tribute by placing wreaths at the monument.