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BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday accused Jamaat-e-Islami of maintaining an understanding with the Awami League, saying his party had already presented documents and evidence to support the allegation.
“Just a few days after August 5, when the blood of the martyrs had not yet dried, their Ameer said they would forgive everything the Awami League had done,” he told reporters after participating in a dengue awareness leaflet distribution programme at Fakirapool in Dhaka.
“They jointly waged movements with the Awami League against the BNP, resorting to arson and violence. These are historical records of their relationship with the Awami League,” Rizvi added.
His remarks came a day after Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar alleged that the BNP had become moderate after reaching an agreement with the Awami League, whose activities are currently banned.
Responding to the allegation, Rizvi challenged Jamaat to produce evidence of the alleged agreement between the BNP and the Awami League.
“Show us the proof of the alleged agreement. We have already shown proof concerning them. These are clearly available in the media,” he said.
“We speak on the basis of documents, while they are making empty claims without producing evidence,” he added.
Rizvi also accused Jamaat of inconsistency over its past political positions, pointing out that the party contested elections alongside the Awami League in 1986, despite previously describing those who participated in elections under HM Ershad as “national traitors”.
“The BNP did not betray the people, and Begum Khaleda Zia did not betray them. They were the ones who betrayed the people. When Hasina left, Jamaat quietly went along with her,” he said.
The BNP leader further alleged that Jamaat was seeking political legitimacy from the Awami League.
“They need a stamp of legitimacy from Awami League. There are records of an Awami League leader bowing to and greeting their former leader, late Ghulam Azam, by holding his feet. You are media professionals, and those documents are available to you,” he said.
Rizvi also raised questions about Jamaat’s role during the 1971 Liberation War, alleging that the party was seeking the Awami League’s endorsement to address concerns over its historical position.
“Behind the scenes and publicly, they have maintained relationships on various issues. This is acknowledged by history and is an undeniable truth,” he claimed.
He also accused Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar of attempting to embarrass the current government through what he described as falsehoods and propaganda.
Speaking about the BNP’s dengue prevention campaign, Rizvi said the party was working to raise public awareness and prevent further infections.
He said dengue had spread across Dhaka and other parts of the country, with Khulna and Chattogram divisions particularly affected.
Rizvi said the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was highly concerned about the outbreak and had taken various measures to contain the disease.
He described the provision of free dengue testing at all government hospitals as an important step in ensuring access to diagnosis.
Rizvi also said the government had directed city corporations to remain alert and prepared to tackle the outbreak through the removal of stagnant water and the cleaning of drains and sewers.
He said BNP leaders and activists had been instructed to conduct awareness campaigns across Dhaka and elsewhere in the country and take initiatives to keep drains, sewers, canals and other potential breeding grounds of Aedes mosquitoes clean.
