Awami League leaders still possess illegal weapons: Rizvi

BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has claimed that illegal firearms are still in the hands of Awami League leaders and activists. 

"Reports in the media have revealed that law enforcement agencies have yet to recover 1,888 firearms, even though their licenses have been revoked," Rizvi said.

"These weapons are still being used. We have received information that they were used against members of the BNP's Swechhasebak Dal in Gopalganj, and similar reports are coming from other districts," Rizvi added, questioning the interim government as to why these weapons have not been recovered.

Speaking at an event organised by" We Are BNP Family" in Bogura's Chak Akashtara village today (16 September), Rizvi also alleged, "Many modern weapons belonging to the Special Security Force [SSF] assigned to Ganabhaban have gone missing. How can people sleep peacefully if these arms aren't recovered?"

During the event, donations were handed over to the families of BNP activists Komor Uddin Khan, Shakil Hossain, and Zillur Rahman, who were killed during recent student-led protests in Bogura. The donations were made on behalf of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Rizvi further claimed, "Awami League leaders have amassed billions in black money. According to reliable media reports, the Hasina-led government has taken loans amounting to Tk18.35 lakh crore in the past 15 years, of which Tk17.6 lakh crore has been laundered. Where is the development? The remaining money is in the hands of Awami League leaders, and it is being used for terrorism, as we saw in Gopalganj."

"We recently heard that Sheikh Hasina is near the border, preparing to return to the country. Her return signals more bloodshed, more massacres. Her forces are once again choosing violence," he added.