UNB, Dhaka

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday described Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan’s comments on reforms involving political parties as “incorrect and confusing”.

Speaking to reporters after paying homage at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Mirpur, he also said such remarks have reflected efforts to depoliticise the country.

“I would like to say the statement made by an advisor yesterday (Friday) about reforms is false. The advisor’s statement is incorrect and misleading,” the BNP leader said.

He said all the reforms across the world have been implemented by politicians. “All reforms have been carried out in parliament. Reforms worldwide, including in Britain and America, have been done by politicians.”

He observed that doing excesses regarding reforms and blaming politicians is a sign of ignorance of history.

Mentioning that reform is an ongoing process, Rizvi said reforms are undertaken in response to the changing needs of society in every country and era.

He said irregularities in society cannot be eliminated in a day. “This requires cooperation from all levels.”

The BNP leader reaffirmed that their party has been cooperating with the interim government to ensure the national election is held within a reasonable timeframe after completing necessary reforms.

In response to a question, he said the current government is now in a position between politics and depoliticisation.

Rizvi urged all to remain cautious against the spread of propaganda and misinformation targeting Bangladesh.

“We are a free nation, our country is an independent, sovereign nation. This country gained its independence through the Liberation War. So, this nation will not bow to anyone’s threats,” he said.

Earlier on Friday, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan questioned the lack of progress in political reforms over the past decades.

“If political reforms cannot be achieved without the involvement of political parties, why haven’t they been implemented in the last 53 years?” she asked, speaking at an awareness and driver retraining programme on noise pollution control in the capital.