Rizvi slams govt for silence

BNP senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday slammed India for pushing its citizens into Bangladesh and criticised the government for "remaining silent", accusing it of following Sheikh Hasina's policy.

"India is pushing its people through borders, including today [yesterday] in Satkhira, Kurigram, Khagrachari and Moulvibazar. This is a great injustice being done by the neighbouring country," he said while addressing a rally.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Buddhist Forum organised the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, marking Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community.

Rizvi, the BNP senior joint secretary general, voiced concern that the government is not lodging a strong protest against the unfair move by India.

"The government has not said a single word about this. Where is Khoda Bakhsh, where is the Home Affairs Adviser's Office, and where is the government? Why is the government not taking any action in this regard?" he said.

"A neighbour is pushing its people through various borders as they wish, and you are silent and not making a sound. You are doing what Sheikh Hasina has done," he said.

During her rule, Sheikh Hasina would not have said a word if people were killed along the border, said Rizvi. "But this interim government, which has been supported by all democratic political parties in the country, remains silent. How dare they push their people into our country through the border? I strongly condemn and protest it," he said.