Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that the administration remained indifferent and uncooperative despite the party鈥檚 repeated calls for legal action against criminals and troublemakers.
Addressing a press conference at the party鈥檚 central office at Naya Paltan in Dhaka, he said that various forms of social crime had been increasing recently, adding that the rise of mob culture was a result of administrative inaction.
Rizvi made the allegation just two days after police detained four leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal 鈥� student and youth wings of the BNP respectively 鈥� for allegedly extorting money after entering a house at Monipuripara in Mirpur on Sunday night.
Clarifying the BNP鈥檚 position, Rizvi said that the party did not tolerate any form of social wrongdoing.
He said that people from all religious and social backgrounds were welcome into the BNP but it did not accept land grabbers, extortionists or criminal elements.
If anyone tried to misuse the party鈥檚 name to create disorder, the party took immediate organisational action, he mentioned.
He alleged that the rise in disorder was being driven by illicit funds and secretive activities, claiming that certain vested interests were trying to destabilise society in the name of 鈥榤ob culture鈥�.
鈥榃e have approached the administration several times asking for action against offenders, but received no cooperation. Their inaction raises serious concerns,鈥� Rizvi said.
He also alleged that social media was being weaponised to spread propaganda against the BNP.
鈥榃ith calculated misuse of technology, vested groups are disseminating misinformation and inciting unrest in a deliberate attempt to disrupt democracy and delay the election process. The people see this as part of a broader conspiracy,鈥� Rizvi alleged.
He warned that the administration鈥檚 ongoing apathy, especially since the interim government assumed power, could lead to serious consequences.
Rizvi said that the lax approach of law enforcement appeared questionable, with signs that some individuals might be deliberately manipulating the situation.
He also alleged that the sheltering of criminal elements backed by illicit wealth during the Awami League鈥檚 rule posed a significant threat to social stability.
Earlier, at a press conference on July 4, Rizvi said that since August 5, 2024, the BNP had taken disciplinary action against approximately four to five thousand leaders and activists of the party and its affiliated organisations in response to serious allegations of criminal activities, violence, and unethical behaviour carried out in the party鈥檚 name.
Recently, public criticism surged following a series of troubling incidents involving leaders of the BNP and its affiliated organisations across the country.
On July 2, footage circulated showing an attack on women at a hotel in Dhaka, leading to immediate action from the party鈥檚 youth wing.
Between July 4 and 5, violent behaviour erupted during a committee formation in Chilmari upazila, Kurigram, featuring torch processions, vandalism, and assaults on party members.
In the early hours of July 5, a party leader was detained by the army in Panthupi union, Cumilla sadar upazila, on charges of armed criminal activity, including possession of an illegal pistol.
On the same day, a local leader in Tazumuddin upazila, Bhola district, was expelled for assaulting a female party member.
Additionally, reports from Patgram on July 5 indicated that individuals claiming BNP affiliation forcefully entered a police station to free detainees, intensifying tensions in the area.