BNP released a statement on its official Facebook page on Tuesday

TDS Desk

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has clarified his statement regarding the removal of the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the Bangabhaban, before issuing an apology for the remarks.

BNP released a statement on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, correcting Rizvi’s remarks.

Explaining his previous statement, Rizvi said in the release: “I was drawn to a news report claiming ‘Sheikh Mujib’s photo was removed from Bangabhaban.’ I assumed it was removed from Bangabhaban’s Darbar Hall, where all Presidents’ portraits are displayed. In reality, the photo was removed from a different office room within Bangabhaban.”

Rizvi further added, “Under Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule, a mandatory law has been enacted to display Sheikh Mujib’s image. Such fascist laws carry no validity. Signs of oppression should not be displayed everywhere, including offices and courts. I apologize for any unintended remarks.”

Earlier in the day, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi criticized the removal of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s portrait from the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban, describing it as an inappropriate action.

“After August 15, 1975, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad removed the portrait of Sheikh Mujib from Bangabhaban, but Ziaur Rahman later reinstated it,” UNB quoted him as saying.

Rizvi referred to a statement by Mahfuj Alam, an adviser in the interim government, who announced that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s portrait had been removed from Bangabhaban.

“You may have done it, but time does not always pass in the same way. Everyone’s contributions should be properly acknowledged. So, I believe his (Mujib’s) photo should not have been taken down,” he said.