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Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned the administration, business community and media houses against the opportunists posing as BNP people after returning from abroad.

Rizvi’s cautionary remarks came while addressing a press briefing at the party’s Naya Paltan central office in Dhaka.

‘Some people lived abroad and enjoyed happy life when the BNP was passing hard time. Now they are returning home and trying to influence the administration, business community, and media houses in their interest.’

‘I want to tell the authorities concerned about such fortune hunters—they do not represent BNP in any way,’ he said.

Rizvi said that many of his party people sacrificed their lives, became crippled and lost their sight during the last 16-year regime of the fascist government, while the party lost many leaders, and many became refugees in their own country, losing their houses, jobs and businesses.

‘After August 5, as they are encouraged at the thought that opportunities for golden future are lying ahead, we should be cautious about some opportunists and fortune seekers who are trying to dictate the business community and media houses for their own gains,’ he also added.

The BNP leader also said, ‘During the bad time of the party, a vested quarter left party, party comrades and the country, got settled abroad, and led life in comfort. After the fall of the fascist government, those people are once again reappearing in the scene and trying to infiltrate in different offices by dictating the administration.’

Party standing committee member Selima Rahman, meanwhile, urged the interim government to hold elections soon as possible.

She made the call while addressing an event held to mark the third anniversary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Nagorik Parishad at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.

‘Dr Yunus is the pride of Bangladesh. We believe that the interim government will organise a fair election by bringing the necessary reforms,’ she said.

She also criticised the government for letting Detective Branch former joint commissioner Harunur Rashid flee the country.

The ghosts of Awami League were still haunting and wanted to create unrest in various ways, including the garment industry, said the BNP leader.

‘The key goal of Bangladesh is to ensured democracy, good governance and voting rights. We still have a lot of work to do,’ she continued.

‘Our mothers, sisters and children were martyred in the student-led mass uprising, but our goal was not achieved,’ said the standing committee member.

‘The day when we can re-establish a democratic Bangladesh through fair elections that will be our auspicious day, and the sacrifices of the martyrs and ours will at last bear fruit for Bangladesh,’ she added.

BNP chairperson’s advisory council member Zainul Abedin Farroque on Friday at a programme urged the government to publish a white paper on those who fled the country after the student-led mass uprising.

‘The government must publish a white paper on those who have left the country, particularly explaining how the individuals responsible for the death of many mothers’ children in Bangladesh managed to escape to India,’ he said,

Farroque, also a former opposition chief whip in the parliament, alleged that India tried to subdue Bangladesh with the aid of Sheikh Hasina.

The Jatiotabadi Ganatantrik Party organised the programme in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, demanding the withdrawal of all the false cases against opposition leaders and activists.

People now expected the interim government to fulfil their desire by announcing a date for the election within a reasonable timeframe, he said.

He also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the cases filed against opposition party leaders during the previous government’s tenure.