Defeated force provides false info to NYT: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that the "defeated force" influenced The New York Times to publish a report by providing "false" information about Bangladesh.

"The allies of fascism own illegal money worth thousands of crores of taka. They are trying to stigmatise Bangladesh using their illicit money," Rizvi said while talking to the media at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the capital, reports UNB.

The BNP leader claimed that extremism has not risen in Bangladesh, rather fascism has been curbed.

He said people are freely practicing their religion and expressing their views.

“They celebrated the Eid (festival) without fear, unlike in the past under Sheikh Hasina's rule. In the past, no one could celebrate Eid with comfort,” he said.

Rizvi accused the Awami League of spreading misinformation globally.

Sheikh Hasina staged the so-called anti-militancy operations as a political strategy to cling to power, which was even mentioned in the book of a former IGP, he said.

“Awami League is not sitting idle, rather spending black money to tarnish the image of Bangladesh…. Awami League is doing subversive activities,” he said.

The BNP senior joint secretary general urged the government to arrange the election by conducting necessary electoral reforms as soon as possible.

“An electoral government is a legitimate government. Any delay in the election is not acceptable to common people. If the specific date of the elections is not clarified, it will create confusion,” said Rizvi.