People will never accept Hasina's return, says Rizvi

Ruling out the possibility of Sheikh Hasina returning to the country, BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said the people will never accept the return of those who do not hesitate to shed the blood of the country's children. 'It can never happen,' he said.

He made the remarks on Sunday (8 November) as chief guest at a discussion meeting organised by Chhatra Dal at the auditorium of Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) on the occasion of National Revolution and Solidarity Day.

Referring to the sacrifices of young people in the 2024 mass uprising, Rizvi said the reality of the revolution created by young people like Mugdha, Abu Sayed and Fayyaz, who took bullets on their chests, cannot go in vain.

He noted that even after so much bloodshed, Sheikh Hasina is talking about returning to the country in December.

Rizvi said she would come down by parachute and everyone would welcome her — such a situation will never arise.

He said Sheikh Hasina is talking about returning from India through various statements, and that she is living in a daydream.

Those who tortured the people of the country and carried out killings have no scope to return, Rizvi said.

Opposing foreign influence in Bangladesh's foreign policy, Rizvi said 7 November ushered in multiparty democracy along with a foreign policy and domestic policy free of foreign influence.

Bangladesh's government and people will decide whom Bangladesh befriends and with whom it signs agreements; the state cannot be run at the behest of any other country, he said.

Praising the leadership of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, Rizvi said he has held the party together despite hundreds of attacks and threats, and is leading the party on the right path in adverse circumstances.

He described 7 November as a compass that shows the right path in times of crisis.