Bangladeshis Enraged at India for Backing an ‘Authoritarian Govt’: Rizvi

November 26, 2023 11:50 am

Dhaka: The political landscape in Bangladesh is heating up as the nation prepares for upcoming national elections, with the latest critique coming from Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the Senior Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Rizvi, in a strongly-worded statement, expressed the discontent of the Bangladeshi people towards India for its perceived support of the current government, which he labeled as ‘authoritarian.’

This rebuke follows the BNP’s recent dissatisfaction with Russia’s endorsement of the ruling party’s ability to conduct fair elections in Bangladesh. Rizvi, while leading a demonstration in the capital’s Banani on Sunday, emphasized that India’s support for the current government goes against the wishes of the Bangladeshi people. He urged Indian authorities to align themselves with the aspirations of the population.

“The Indian government and politicians should understand why the people of Bangladesh are enraged against them. By supporting an ‘authoritarian government,’ they [India] have taken a position against the people of Bangladesh,” Rizvi stated.

Rizvi accused India of benefiting disproportionately from its relationship with Bangladesh, highlighting the contentious border situation. He described the Bangladesh-India border as the most “bloodied border,” accusing the Border Security Force (BSF) of engaging in frequent shooting incidents resulting in the deaths of Bangladeshis.

“India conducts one-sided trade with Bangladesh while hindering Bangladeshi businesses there,” Rizvi alleged, adding that India is earning billions of dollars in remittances from Bangladesh through various means.

Furthermore, Rizvi lamented that the current Bangladesh government has given India everything while receiving nothing in return.

This criticism comes on the heels of BNP’s condemnation of Russia’s interference in Bangladesh’s internal politics. Rizvi responded to the recent statement by Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, accusing the US Ambassador of meddling in Bangladesh’s affairs.

“The spokesperson’s remarks are in conflict with the aspirations and position of the Bangladeshi people for a transparent and participatory election,” Rizvi remarked, underlining the growing international scrutiny and influence surrounding the upcoming elections in Bangladesh.