BNP Senior Joint General Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today spoke at a milad and prayer mahfil on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat at the party's central office at Naya Paltan in the city. Photo: Video Screenshot

DHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Senior Joint General Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today said that statements about the declaration of independence are being deliberately made anew.

He said, "With what audacity and what sinister motive are you talking about the declaration of independence today? Those who are saying these things might themselves claim in a few days that Golam Azam was the one who proclaimed independence, because they never hesitate to lie."

Rizvi made the allegation at a milad and prayer mahfil organized by the BNP on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat on the ground floor of the party's central office at Naya Paltan in the city. 

He said, '"A party has made vulgar and derogatory remarks about women, which has angered women across the country. To cover up that anger, the party is now talking about the declarer of independence. But an established truth cannot be obscured by making it controversial."

Rizvi said that the person whom the Jamaat Ameer in Chittagong tried to portray as the declarer of independence yesterday (Monday) never made such a claim himself. "The actual declarer of independence was former President Ziaur Rahman. At that time, as a major, he proclaimed independence, gave direction to the entire nation, and called upon them to join the Liberation War. The person who worked as his assistant has also repeatedly mentioned Ziaur Rahman's name with great respect in his own writings," said Rizvi. 

He posed a question, saying, "If such statements are suddenly made for political gain now, will people accept them? He never claimed himself to be the declarer of independence during his military or professional life. Even when Ziaur Rahman formed a party, he remained as his assistant. These facts are also present in his published books."

Highlighting the significance of Shab-e-Barat, Rizvi said, "Shab-e-Barat is a holy night. On this night, Muslims around the world engage in prayers to attain closeness to Allah. Every festival of Islam, be it Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Shab-e-Barat, or Shab-e-Qadr, is related to receiving Allah's mercy and blessings. These holy days and nights create a sense of self-purification among people."

Rizvi alleged that some people want to reap benefits by doing politics and business in the name of Islam. 

"Religion is used to attain power. However, the Muslims of this country hold Islam not as a commodity for business, but as an ideal for life conduct. The responsibility of scholars and clerics is to explain the true essence of Islam, but if hypocrisy is practiced in the name of religion, sin and corruption in society will only increase," he said.

BNP Voluntary Affairs Secretary Mir Sarfat Ali Sapu and Executive Committee Member Md. Mainul Islam, among others, were present in the doa mahfil.