“Money is Worshipped, Hence Even Minor Natural Disasters Shake Us”: Rizvi

Senior Joint Secretary General of the BNP, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, has criticised the prioritisation of wealth over human safety, saying that the obsession with money is why even minor natural disasters now terrify the nation. He emphasised that politicians should focus on their political responsibilities rather than being distracted by other matters.

Rizvi made these remarks on Sunday during a prayer meeting and pre-discussion session held at the Bhashani Bhaban in Dhaka, organised for the late BNP National Executive Committee member Syful Islam Patu.

Neglect of Dhaka’s Rivers and Canals

Rizvi recalled the historical significance of Dhaka’s waterways, saying that areas like Karwan Bazar, once bustling with river traffic including sailboats and ships, have been neglected. “We did not preserve these rivers, nor did we consider their importance. Rapid land reclamation and illegal construction have replaced natural waterways. Houses have been built without planning, rented or sold for profit. People sold rural land and came to Dhaka to buy flats, striving to become wealthy overnight. The extensive paddy fields, rivers, and ponds have been lost,” he said.

He also criticised the closure of Dhaka’s major water channels, noting that large leaders, researchers, and educational institutions did not act to maintain these waterways. Areas like Mirpur’s Paikpara, which once connected canals to Gabtoli, have vanished. According to Rizvi, land grabbers and urban planners now view canals, the environment, and fresh air as adversaries. This is not just a Dhaka problem, but a national issue, as many in positions of power have prioritised wealth over public welfare.

The Rise of Land Grabbers as Political Leaders

Rizvi highlighted the social consequences of unplanned urban expansion: “Plots that were only one and a half kathas of ancestral land have been built into ten-storey buildings. Dhaka’s reservoirs have been blocked. These land grabbers have become political leaders and rulers of society. Many have not even completed secondary education. They seize rivers, wetlands, and ponds to own huge farms. Even graduates from BUET or Dhaka University now depend on them for jobs. Society has become divided. This has been most facilitated under Sheikh Hasina’s rule. Otherwise, how could more than fifty casinos operate in Dhaka? Yet, those involved were neither expelled nor removed from the Awami League.”

Lessons from Natural Disasters

Rizvi stressed that earthquakes and other disasters should be moments of realisation for politicians: “It is time for all of us in politics to understand our responsibilities. If we fail, we risk disappearing into a void. Let us work together to create a habitable Bangladesh and a sustainable world.”

Attendees

The prayer meeting and discussion were attended by BNP Joint Secretary General Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, Volunteer Affairs Secretary Mir Sarfat Ali Sopu, Deputy Volunteer Affairs Secretary Abdul Qadir Bhuiyan Jewel, and Youth Affairs Deputy Secretary Mir Newaz Ali Newaz, among others.