Rizvi criticises India for sheltering Hasina

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that India is creating opportunities for sabotage in Bangladesh by giving shelter to fugitive ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

"India has given shelter to a fugitive criminal. But the country is giving her the chance to do sabotage against Bangladesh, and this is not a lawful behaviour from India. This is very unfortunate," Rizvi said.

He made the remarks at a press conference in Nayapaltan this morning while responding to a question from a journalist.

The BNP leader said a country like India, which upholds democracy and has an independent judiciary, should not allow Sheikh Hasina the space to engage in wrongful activities.

"Giving shelter to an unlawful person and allowing her to carry out free sabotage inside Bangladesh is never acceptable."

Rizvi said a person facing charges under Bangladesh's laws is issuing instructions freely from India, and those directives have no legal standing.

"She is telling people to burn and destroy property, and these orders are clearly illegal. How can India allow this while calling itself a democratic country?"

BNP has no instructions for its leaders and activists regarding Sheikh Hasina's trial, he said, adding that the matter rests entirely with the courts and the legal process.