Fire at Secretariat part of deep conspiracy: Rizvi
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has claimed that the fire at the Secretariat is part of a deep conspiracy. He alleged that the fire was deliberately set to destroy files from the concerned ministries, aiming to cover up corruption worth thousands of crores of takas by the previous authoritarian government.
Rizvi made these remarks on Saturday after visiting the grave of Sohanur Zaman Noyon, a firefighter who lost his life while on duty attempting to extinguish the Secretariat fire, at Mithapukur in Rangpur.
He said, "The fire has reduced files and furniture from four to five ministries to ashes. This is part of a deep conspiracy. The authoritarian government has embezzled public funds in ways that are beyond description. U.S. intelligence agencies are investigating the laundering of $350 million under the names of Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and others. This is just one incident among many. To cover up such scandals, important files were burnt in the nine-story building of the ministry."
Rizvi also accused a key secretary in the Hasina government of laundering significant amounts of money, claiming, "The files destroyed in the fire included those related to his corruption. Many crucial documents were lost in the fire." He alleged that remnants of the defeated authoritarian regime are still embedded in the bureaucracy, police, and other government institutions. "They remain in critical positions, lying in wait, and the types of sabotage or conspiracies they might orchestrate are unpredictable," he added.
Criticising India, Rizvi accused the neighboring country of conspiring to support Hasina’s regime. He said, "While leaders and nations worldwide have expressed solidarity with the movement for democratic change in Bangladesh and honored those martyred and injured, one country remains hesitant — our neighboring country, India. India is crafting narratives about minority oppression to shield Sheikh Hasina’s misdeeds and keep her in power."
Earlier in the morning, Rizvi visited the family home of the deceased firefighter Noyon at Charan Atpuniya village in the Borobala Union of Mithapukur. He offered prayers at his grave and inquired about the well-being of his family members.
BNP Organizing Secretary (Rangpur Division) Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, along with other local BNP leaders and activists, were present during the visit.
