Not attending Awami League's Council right decision, says BNP leader Rizvi

The BNP says it did not attend the Awami League's National Council as a mark of protest because its leaders and activists were being abused across the country by the government.

Speaking at media briefing on Sunday, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said not attending the council was the 'right' decision.

"Just a few days ago, our chairperson was verbally attacked in an indecent manner (by ruling party leaders), the way the government behaved during our Mar 19 council and the abuse of our leader and activists across the country...How can a decent person attend their council (after all of these)," he said.

According to him, if a proper democratic atmosphere existed, then it 'would have been odd not to attend.'

"I think it was the right decision that our delegates did not attend the council," said the senior BNP leader.

After receiving an invitation to attend the Awami League's 20th National Council, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Thursday that a decision would be taken at a meeting of the party's forum.

The next day, BNP Joint Secretary General Moazzem Hossain Alal told the media that they would attend the event, but no BNP representatives were seen at the Suhrawardy Udyan inaugural session on Saturday.

Rizvi, who has been released from prison on Oct 19 on bail in violence cases, claimed on Sunday that there's no democratic environment in the country. "How can our leaders go and greet them in this circumstance?”

He criticised the Awami League over the money spend on the two-day event.

“It is evident that the funds spent for this council has not been raised in a legitimate way. A massive form of corruption lies underneath the effort,” he claimed.