BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that when Tarique Rahman was a newcomer to politics, the main objective behind his imprisonment was to weaken nationalist politics so that it could never regain its strength.“This was not merely a minor conspiracy or an exclusively domestic plot; rather, it was a joint manifestation of domestic and international conspiracies,” Rizvi said.He made the remarks at a discussion held at the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Wednesday (September 2).

The Northern Students Forum organised the discussion to mark the 19th anniversary of Tarique Rahman’s release from prison.

Rizvi said the imprisonment of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman was part of the same alleged conspiracy. He claimed that Tarique Rahman was carrying forward the legacy of Ziaur Rahman, including his contributions to production and development, foreign policy, internal peace and stability, and the historic achievement of making the country self-sufficient in food.

Recalling the country’s political situation in the past, Rizvi said that between 1972 and 1975, famine, looting, violence, suppression of opposition parties, bloodshed, and the closure of newspapers and political parties had pushed the country into a suffocating situation.

According to Rizvi, Ziaur Rahman subsequently opened the way for democracy, allowing people to speak freely and express their views without fear.

“Those who have Allah’s support and the backing of the people cannot be defeated by any conspiracy,” Rizvi said.

He alleged that Tarique Rahman had not only been subjected to psychological harassment and imprisonment but had also faced physical torture. Rizvi claimed that Tarique still bears the scars of those alleged attacks.

Rizvi said Tarique Rahman had been working since 2018 to unite and inspire the nation. He claimed that Tarique had led movements against the Sheikh Hasina government and in favour of restoring democracy.

According to Rizvi, Tarique had stood beside BNP activists at the grassroots level, including those at ward, union, upazila and district levels, as well as families affected by enforced disappearances, killings and political repression.

He also said that support and sympathy had regularly been extended to affected families through the organisation ‘Amra BNP Poribar’ and various affiliated organisations of the party.

Rizvi further alleged that various forms of propaganda had been spread against Tarique Rahman in the past and continued to be circulated. However, he said, people were now witnessing Tarique’s activities as prime minister and that he was not simply staying at home or remaining inactive but was working to fulfil the commitments he had made to the people with dedication and sincerity.

The discussion was chaired by the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary, Atikur Rahman Rumon.

Land Deputy Minister and adviser to the Northern Students Forum Barrister Mir Helal attended the event as a special guest. Leaders and activists of the North-Eastern and Northern Students Forums, as well as representatives of different levels of the BNP and its affiliated organisations, were also present.