Awami League now holding online strikes and blockades: Rizvi

BNP‍‍`s senior leader, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, has made a bold statement, claiming that the Awami League is now organizing strikes and blockades online, after failing to get a response from the public. 

He pointed out that the ruling party is no longer able to connect with the people on the ground.

Speaking to the press on Monday, February 3, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka, Rizvi explained how the Awami League had shifted their tactics after realizing they were losing touch with the public.

Earlier that day, Rizvi, along with leaders of the newly-formed BNP committee in Munshiganj district, paid respects at the mausoleum of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman.

Rizvi further accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of being desperate to regain her "brutal rule" over Bangladesh. 

"She is seeking shelter in another country while secretly encouraging her followers to cause unrest and create plots within Bangladesh. However, with no response from the people, now they are holding strikes and blockades online. They cannot connect with the people anymore," Rizvi said.

He also stressed the importance of necessary reforms to prevent any government from using force and violence to control the population. 

"We need reforms that will ensure no government can suppress the people through threats and violence."

Rizvi went on to reflect on the struggle for democracy, saying, 

"We want democracy to grow and for there to be a truly free environment where people can speak their minds, participate in rallies, and organize political events without fear. This current freedom we have is the result of 16 years of sacrifices and the bloodshed of countless BNP leaders and activists."

He concluded by highlighting that while progress has been made in establishing democracy, the fight is not over. 

"We have passed one stage of democracy, but we are now entering the final stage. We must ensure free and fair elections, judicial independence, and the rule of law. We must also make sure that law enforcement never uses shotguns and bullets to silence protests, as we’ve seen with Hasina‍‍`s police force. The use of guns to crush movements must be banned forever," Rizvi added.