BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday alleged that the interim government advisers are trying to create a division between the anti-fascist movement and the recent July-August uprising.

“The July-August uprising is the final manifestation of the movement that the pro-democracy political parties, led by BNP, carried out for 15 years,” he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while addressing a human-chain programme in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, organised by the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, demanding the trial of those responsible for the rape and murder of eight-year-old Achia in Magura.

He said many BNP leaders and workers, including Ilias Ali, had been subjected to enforced disappearances over the past 15 years for speaking up in favour of free and fair elections and for seeking to liberate Bangladesh from fascism.

“Finally, children, youths and teenagers sacrificed their lives in July-August and ousted Sheikh Hasina. So, I would like to ask the advisers, why are you drawing a dividing line between this 15-16-year movement and the July-August movement?” Rizvi said.

He called upon the advisers to focus on working for the welfare of people and lowering the prices of essentials, particularly rice. “An adviser has told the students that the way you are running the country and if we continue like this for five years, the country will be better. That means there is no need for an election,” the BNP leader said.

He said elections are crucial to ensuring democracy, the rule of law, justice, and freedom of the press.

“What are you teaching them (students)? You are leading them towards fascism or dictatorship. This is unjustified,” Rizvi said.

He said his party wants Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus to hold a free and fair election that upholds the people’s confidence in him.

"People have such deep faith that you will hand over power to the elected representatives of the people through a free and fair election. But if there is a delay, it will take on a different turn," the BNP leader warned.

Rizvi said the prevailing discontent in the country is a result of Sheikh Hasina’s misrule. “We must uproot the distorted fruits of this misrule and establish a pure society,” he observed.