Rizvi blasts Hasina over reported discovery of gold
Staff Reporter :
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday sharply criticised deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying that the reported recovery of a large amount of gold from bank vaults under her name exposed the extent of her alleged corruption.
“Newspapers reported that 832 bhori of gold was recovered from two Agrani Bank vaults registered under Sheikh Hasina’s name. What does that say about a person? How enormous must someone’s greed be for such a thing to happen? Naturally she fled-she knew what she had done,” Rizvi told a Doa and Milad Mahfil arranged by Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal at Nayapaltan’s Bhasani Bhaban, seeking prayers for the recovery of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
He said that-unlike Sheikh Hasina-no gold or hidden assets were ever discovered in Khaleda Zia’s name in any bank, as she is a “patriotic and honest statesperson.” Rizvi added that Khaleda Zia endured the loss of her husband and home and witnessed the suffering of her children, yet never abandoned the country.
“Despite immense adversity, she stayed in Bangladesh with courage, committed to protecting the nation,” he said.
In contrast, he noted, Sheikh Hasina left the country whenever political pressure mounted. “When things became difficult in 2008, she hurried off to her son. And later, sensing the anger of the people, she fled again.”
Rizvi recalled how Awami League leaders once loudly claimed that “Bangabandhu’s daughter never runs away.”
“But those whose character is steeped in looting and misdeeds are the first to flee. When thieves and robbers are chased, they leave behind whatever they cannot carry. She (Hasina) didn’t have time to take that gold with her,” he said.
He accused Sheikh Hasina of weakening Bangladesh through widespread plundering and making the country dependent on outside forces.
“But because of the steadfast role of Begum Khaleda Zia-and the leadership of Tarique Rahman-she could not achieve those goals and ultimately had to escape,” he stated.
Rizvi said the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus has now been in charge for 15 months following Hasina’s ouster. “According to the World Bank, six crore people are at risk of falling into poverty and three crore are already below the poverty line. Why must the country face such hardship? This is not what the people want.”
He reiterated that the interim administration has promised a free and fair national election in February, before Ramadan, so the people can choose their government freely. He expressed hope that it would continue to act neutrally to safeguard democracy and restore the people’s right to vote.
Praising Khaleda Zia, he said the nation deeply values her sacrifices and prays for her recovery.
“Despite severe illness and years of suffering, she never abandoned her party or her country. We are proud to have a leader like her,” he said.
Rizvi added that Khaleda Zia guided the nation through its darkest moments, teaching patience, unity, and principled politics even in times of turmoil.
He also alleged that the former Awami League government intentionally worsened her health during imprisonment. “She entered prison healthy under a baseless case, but her condition deteriorated due to various deliberate actions… all rooted in Sheikh Hasina’s vindictiveness,” he claimed.