Rizvi Alleges Barriers Against Chhatra Dal in DUCSU Nomination Process

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that organised mobs are being used to prevent Chhatra Dal members from purchasing nomination papers for the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections.

Speaking to reporters, Rizvi questioned: “If this government under Dr Yunus is truly in power, then why should such a situation prevail today? Across the country, mobs are being formed unlawfully. Disorderly groups are taking the law into their own hands, simply because laws are not being enforced properly.”

He made these remarks on Tuesday, 19 August, after paying respects at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman on the occasion of the anniversary of the party’s volunteer wing, Swachchhasebak Dal.

Rizvi warned of escalating unlawful activities, stressing the risks faced by minority communities: “Illegal acts are being committed openly. The lives of minorities are endangered. In Rangpur, two members of minority communities have already lost their lives due to mob violence. Such a situation is not what we expect from an interim government.”

The BNP leader also criticised financial mismanagement under successive governments, citing alarming figures regarding loan defaulters:

He claimed that instead of recovering funds, loan defaulters’ debts have been renewed and protected.

“The people of this country did not expect such actions from this government. If loan defaulters are not arrested and if embezzled money that has been sent abroad is not brought back, Bangladesh will face economic bankruptcy.”

Addressing the path forward, Rizvi called upon the interim government to take concrete steps to ensure transparent elections: “The interim administration must create an environment where voters can reach polling centres without obstacles. Polling stations established previously for political motives must be cancelled. Because in recent years, we have seen one election held without voters, another one staged with midnight voting, and the last one in 2024 conducted as a dummy election.”

Rizvi’s Statement

• Allegation of Mob Barriers: Claimed mobs are obstructing Chhatra Dal’s participation in DUCSU election nominations.
• Law and Order Concerns: Accused authorities of failing to enforce law, allowing mob violence to flourish.
• Minority Security: Highlighted fatalities of minority community members due to mob attacks in Rangpur.
• Loan Default Crisis: Accused governments (past and present) of renewing massive loans of defaulters without recovery.
• Economic Warning: Predicted financial collapse if stolen wealth abroad is not repatriated.
• Electoral Reform Demand: Urged interim government to ensure free, fair and inclusive elections by dismantling politically motivated polling centres.