BNP to support families of July victims, if voted to power: Rizvi

FE Team | Published: May 23, 2025 23:46:58

NARSINGDI, May 23 (UNB): BNP Senior Joint General Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said if his party comes to power, the state will take full responsibility for the families of those who were killed or injured during the July-August movement.
"Those who are now reaping the benefits of the July movement, holding key positions including advisory roles or even forming political parties, should be more attentive to the families of the martyrs," Rizvi noted while speaking to reporters after visiting the family of Arman Molla, who was killed during mass uprising by students and locals, in the Chouya area of Meherpara union under Sadar upazila.
The BNP leader questioned why they [interim government] don't have the list of the martyrs, whose blood laid the foundation for this current [interim] government?
He said the freedom people enjoy today is owed to the sacrifices of individuals like the late Arman Molla.
"It is heartbreaking that the children of someone who gave his life for the country's freedom have to live in an orphanage instead of their home," Rizvi said.
"We came here to stand by Arman's family. After the incident was reported in the media, BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, a true leader of the masses, took notice and took responsibility for the family. He sent us here on behalf of the 'Amra BNP Poribar' initiative," he added.
On July 21 last year, Arman Molla was shot dead on the spot while participating in a protest in front of the Shilmandi Union Parishad in Narsingdi.
Arman's wife, Salma Begum, has since been struggling to support their three minor children. She has placed her elder daughter Mahi (10) and son Rafi (7) in an orphanage, while she continues to live in extreme hardship with her youngest daughter Afra (3).
FE Report adds: the BNP does not want Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus to resign; it wants an election roadmap, said party chairperson's adviser Zainul Abdin Farroque on Friday amid talks that the former wants to resign.
"You are not Yunus the individual, but the Yunus of 180 million people of the country. We do not want your resignation," he told a rally titled "Countrymen, stand up against conspiracy to sabotage the national election" and held at the National Press Club in the capital.
Expressing his confidence in Yunus, Farroque said, "A conscious citizen like you, who has made us proud in the court of the world, you are a Nobel laureate. [...] But yesterday I was surprised. I saw on social and news media that he [Yunus] told the NCP [National Citizen Party] leader - "I [Yunus] have no choice but to resign."
"I do not know if it is true. I am very upset about this. What did we appoint you for, why did we appoint you, were you able to move forward on that path for nine months, were you unable to do so? We want to know the reasons and issues behind your inability," he continued.