I’ll be vigilant to prevent hybrids from entering BNP: Rizvi

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said he will focus on strengthening the party’s organisation and recognising grassroots leaders and activists who have made sacrifices for the party after assuming his new responsibility.

He said whenever a political party comes to power after a long struggle, many 'hybrid' and 'opportunist' elements try to join it. He would remain vigilant to prevent such people from gaining positions or benefits in the party at the expense of dedicated leaders and workers.

Rizvi also said he would take a tougher stance against those involved in extortion, land grabbing and establishing supremacy in the name of the party.

The BNP acting secretary general made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Asia Post at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan in the capital on Sunday (24 August). Details of the interview have been shared below:

Asia Post: How are you feeling after being given the responsibility of BNP Acting Secretary General?

Rizvi: It is a matter of pride and joy to be given responsibility in the BNP, the largest political party in Bangladesh. I pray to the Almighty for the courage and strength to perform my duties properly.

I have served the party as its Senior Joint Secretary General and am now a member of the party’s Standing Committee. I am also serving as an adviser to the Prime Minister. I will perform my responsibilities in the party to the best of my ability.

I want to ensure that the party’s leaders and workers do not feel that they have no access to me or cannot reach me when I am unavailable at the office.

Asia Post: In your reaction, you expressed fear and anxiety. Why?

Rizvi: It is not enough simply to receive a leadership position. What is important is whether I can properly perform the responsibilities entrusted to me.

This feeling has always remained active in me. I want to fulfil the responsibilities assigned to me by the party chairman with the support and cooperation of party leaders and workers.

Asia Post: What organizational issues will you prioritize?

Rizvi: We will focus on maintaining discipline within the party and increasing organizational activities. We will also take constructive criticism from the opposition into consideration. In the past, we have seen that when a party comes to power, its organizational activities tend to decline. We will ensure that this does not happen. We will carry out organizational activities under the direction of our party Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Asia Post: What are your plans for strengthening the grassroots organization?

Rizvi: The organization is being restructured in a new way ahead of the upcoming local government elections. The party Chairman is regularly meeting with grassroots leaders and giving them advice. We will try to make the grassroots organization stronger than ever before.

Asia Post: What are the major challenges facing the government?

Rizvi: The government has successfully completed six months in office. At present, we are facing an energy crisis.

We are working under the leadership of the Prime Minister to resolve it. I hope the crisis will soon be overcome. There are still significant gas reserves in the country, and we will extract and utilize them. In addition, discussions are underway with several countries, including China and Malaysia, to resolve the problem. The government is making every possible effort to overcome the energy crisis.

Asia Post: There has been talk of maintaining a balance between the government and party activities. How much progress has been made in this regard?

Rizvi: The party formed the government after winning the election. The ministers, state ministers and advisers are all members of the party. Therefore, they will perform their government responsibilities while also carrying out their party duties.

There is no complication in this regard. In the early days of the government, party activities were somewhat slow, but they are now fully active again. Every week, the party Chairman meets and exchanges views with grassroots leaders for two or three days. Through these meetings, he remains informed about various organizational issues and provides necessary directions.

Asia Post: There have been allegations against some party members involving land grabbing, extortion and violations of party discipline. What is the party's position on this?

Rizvi: The party's position is very clear. Anyone who uses the party's name to engage in extortion, establish dominance or grab land will not be spared under any circumstances. So far, around 2,000 leaders have been punished in different ways and for different periods. Due to the party's strict stance, such allegations have declined considerably. The people are also seeing that anyone involved in unethical activities within the BNP has to face legal and organizational action. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has exercised very firm control in this regard.

Asia Post: How much progress has been made in implementing the election pledges?

Rizvi: We contested the election with the 31-point programme as our commitment. Within six months, many of the pledges have already been implemented, including the Family Card, Farmer Card and waiving agricultural loans along with interest.

I hope the 31-point programme will be implemented before the government's term ends.

Asia Post: How does the BNP assess the July movement and the mass uprising?

Rizvi: The July movement was a great mass uprising. It proved that when people genuinely take to the streets, no authoritarian ruler can remain in power. We have seen that happen. Sheikh Hasina's dream of remaining Prime Minister permanently was shattered by the July movement. The BNP was in the streets throughout the movement, from beginning to end.

Asia Post: How are relations between the government and the opposition parties?

Rizvi: The government has excellent relations with the opposition parties. Their constructive criticism is being taken into consideration and necessary measures are being taken.

Asia Post: To what extent are the alliance partners who stood with the BNP during the fascist regime being evaluated?

Rizvi: Several ministers have come from the alliance partners. The evaluation is an ongoing process.

Asia Post: Is it possible to fill the void left by former BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the current President?

Rizvi: He served for a long time during a period of extremely severe fascist misrule. He had to lead the party during that oppression and was arrested repeatedly. He certainly has a major influence among the party's leaders and activists.

However, we hope that no vacuum or gap will emerge and that we will continue our efforts to fill the void in every possible way.

Asia Post: Many party leaders and activists have complained about the entry of 'hybrids and opportunists' into the BNP. Will you take any measures to identify them?

Rizvi: When a party comes to power after a long struggle, hybrids tend to flock to it. To ensure that they cannot take advantage of the situation, our dedicated leaders and activists—those who played roles in the movement and suffered for it—must remain united. We must remain vigilant so that hybrids cannot misuse the party's name to engage in unethical activities. The party is alert to this issue.

Asia Post: There are allegations that dedicated leaders and activists are not being properly recognized. How true is this?

Rizvi: The party Chairman is evaluating leaders and activists in various ways based on their merit and qualifications. Recently, at least 12 BNP leaders at different levels have been appointed to various government agencies, and all of them are grassroots leaders. Qualified party leaders have also been given positions in semi-government institutions in district and divisional cities. This process of recognition will continue.

Asia Post: What could be the BNP's future political strategy?

Rizvi: The BNP's priority strategy is to retain its public support and gain new support. The BNP government is moving forward with the right strategy.

Asia Post: When will the BNP's national council be held?

Rizvi: The date has not yet been finalized. The party's policymaking forum will make a decision and announce it. However, I can say that it will be held very soon.

Asia Post: Thank you for your time.

Rizvi: On behalf of the BNP, I sincerely thank Asia Post and its readers as well.