Shawdesh Desk:

Throwing his Indian shawl away, the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, expressed solidarity with the social media campaign for boycotting Indian products on Wednesday.

Rizvi did this in front of the party’s Naya Paltan central office following a press conference where he said, ‘Social media is buzzing with the boycott India campaign. There is public opinion against the import of Indian products. The wave of boycotts of Indian products is visible. Therefore, as a party representing the people, BNP and 63 democratic parties and patriotic citizens  of the nation are expressing solidarity with the boycott of Indian products.’

A BNP standing committee member and several leaders of the BNP allies confirmed to New Age that no such policy decision had been made yet in this regard.

‘We held a meeting of the party’s standing committee on Monday. We did not take any decision to boycott any nation or the products of any particular nation,’ BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy told New Age.

He said that Rizvi’s announcement may be personal.

When asked about the matter, Rizvi told New Age, ‘This announcement is mine as well as my party’s. We are not making all statements through meetings. There are some political issues also.’

Ganatantra Mancha, a coalition of six political parties, and a major partner of BNP in the ongoing democratic movement against the ruling Awami League, also said that they were not aware of Rizvi’s announcement.

Ganatantra Mancha leader and Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Huq told New Age that no such decision had yet been taken in any policymaking forum or liaison committee.

He, however, said that the Mancha considered the social media campaign to boycott Indian products symbolic, as the incumbent ruler of India backed the AL in the past three elections, ignoring the sentiments of the democracy-loving people of Bangladesh.

Social Democratic Party convener Abul Kalam Azad, a leader of the four-party combine Democratic Left Unity, told New Age that there was no such decision by the alliance or parties engaged in the ongoing simultaneous movement.

At the press conference, Rizvi claimed that AL did not seek the mandate of the Bangladeshi people but was ‘clinging to power through the backing of the Modi [Indian prime minister Narendra Modi] government and entering into bonds of subjugation.’

He further accused the AL of perceiving Bangladesh as a ‘dummy state,’ alleging that the real power behind the AL was not the people of Bangladesh but India.

By supporting the Awami League, India is exercising control over Bangladesh, infringing upon the rights of its citizens, he added.

‘It is believed that India dictates the appointment of crucial positions like the chief of Bangladesh Police and BGB, undermining our sovereignty,’ he said.

Rizvi also pointed to statements made by Indian foreign ministry officials expressing support for the Awami League ahead of the January 7 national election.

‘The notion of our sovereignty is being compromised under the guise of stability under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership,’ he stated.

Rizvi also said the ‘India out’ campaign is gaining momentum in Bangladesh, saying that it is people’s protest against the country’s influence.