Salman F Rahman conspiring to destabilise country: Rizvi

Jailed Awami League leader and businessman Salman F Rahman is making nefarious efforts from jail to destabilise the country amid the government's inaction, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged today (20 November).

Speaking to reporters at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office, he also expressed concern, stating that some advisers to the interim government, including Ali Imam Majumder and the Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, are playing a mysterious role taking a position against the democratic forces.

"We have heard that Khoda Baksh is taking a stand against those who were deprived and sympathetic to the movement. They are being targeted and removed. It is a very mysterious matter," the BNP leader said.

He said it seems that Khoda Baksh and some advisers are taking such steps to implement a sinister plan.

"Salman F Rahman, sitting in jail, is devising various evil plans and schemes. However, we have not seen any action taken in this regard. We're receiving evidence that Salman F Rahman is living like a king inside the prison and is orchestrating all the plans from there," the BNP leader said.

He also alleged that Salman, the former private industry affairs adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, has played a role in destabilising the garment sector, as most of the garment owners are in favour of Awami fascism.

"We have not seen any action concerning these matters. How are they carrying out activities from inside the jail?" Rizvi questioned.

He said BNP is getting worried over the actions of some advisers, as they go against the original spirit of the mass movement. "It has caused anxiety across the entire nation." That is why individuals like Salman F Rahman are attempting to destabilise the country from inside the jail, while those who have not been arrested are spreading vast amounts of money to cause further instability."

The BNP leader said the current interim government is a reflection of the student-led mass revolution. "Many of those in the government were repressed by the fascist Awami League for freely expressing their opinions, despite having no political affiliation."

Even Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, who is respected by all, was subjected to harassment, he said.

He mentioned that Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and two students who became advisers have also faced various forms of harassment. "However, some advisers who have always been opportunists… some advisory council members and certain officials in the Chief Adviser's office seem to be targeting those who were in favour of the movement."

He said Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Khoda Baksh Chowdhury, was a former Inspector General of Police (IGP). "But what role did he play in the last 15 years? Does Khoda Baksh hold the spirit of the democratic movement? He doesn't. He is trying to appear impartial. You were the IGP during BNP's tenure—what did you do then? It was because of people like you the 1/11 political changeover occurred, and undemocratic power took over."

Rizvi claimed that Ali Imam Majumder, upon becoming an adviser, appointed Deputy Commissioners (DCs) who were supportive of Awami fascism.

He questioned Ali Imam Majumder's role over the past 15 years, stating that he never spoke in favour of democracy or the July-August movement.

Stating that the interim government is the outcome of the student-led mass movement, the BNP leader said it should have fostered relations with pro-democratic forces and parties.

"If somehow Sheikh Hasina reemerges, no one, except a few individuals within the interim government who maintain relations with her, will be spared. No one of us will be spared," Rizvi warned.

He said that there should be strong unity among democratic forces to protect the country's independence and sovereignty and to resist the rise of Awami fascism.