BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Political Adviser to the Prime Minister Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi -File photo

DHAKA, Aug 3, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Political Adviser to the Prime Minister Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today said that if Sheikh Hasina had not fallen in the July Uprising, countless students would have face severe consequences. Many of us could have been hanged”.

"Throughout the movement, BNP Chairman and current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman gave me directives every day. I virtually shared those directives with journalists," he said.

The veteran BNP leader made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion and documentary screening titled 'Nurses' Contribution in the Bloody July' at the Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) premises this afternoon. 

The Nurses Association of Bangladesh (NAB) organized the event with NAB’s President, BMU branch Sharmin Akhter in the chair.  

Rizvi said that many are now making various statements about the credit for the July uprising. 

"Yet, on July 22, Sheikh Hasina herself said in a press conference that the ongoing movement was being instigated by BNP. Similarly, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Qader also said that the movement was being planned from London," he said.
 
He further said, "Today, while credit is being claimed for the movement, language is being used against BNP that is not in line with political culture.”

In this context, he said, “If we had not participated in the anti-discrimination movement, how our 650 leaders and activists could have sacrificed their lives?"

Describing the July movement as an outburst against 17 years of oppression and persecution, Rizvi said, "This was not a one-day movement. This movement for establishing civil liberties shares similarities with the spirit of the French Revolution."

He also commented that the vulgar and indecent language culture introduced in politics by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now being repeated by leaders of a new party.

"Sheikh Hasina always used to talk nonsense. She dragged politics to a despicable level. Despite enduring so much injustice and oppression, we strongly criticized her, but we never made obscene or indecent remarks. The bad political culture Sheikh Hasina left behind is now being followed by the leaders of a new party," he added. 

Political Assistant to the Prime Minister Rashid Khan,  BNP Health Affairs Secretary Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam and Co-Health Affairs Secretary (Nurses and Health Assistants) Sujon Mia spoke on the occasion.