Bangladesh’s independence and national sovereignty were safeguarded due to the leadership of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has said.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the remarks on Friday while inaugurating a three-day photo exhibition in memory of the late BNP chairperson at Justice Shahabuddin Park in Gulshan, according to a press statement.
The exhibition, titled “The Sovereign Legacy of Khaleda Zia,” has been organised by the Bogura Media and Cultural Forum, Dhaka, and showcases photographs highlighting key moments from Khaleda Zia’s political career as a three-time prime minister.
Speaking as the chief guest, Mr Rizvi criticised the energy policies of the previous government, with particular focus on the Rampal coal-fired power plant project. He alleged that a similar power plant project in India’s Jharkhand had been cancelled by that country’s planning authorities, while Bangladesh went ahead with the controversial Rampal project under what he described as an “authoritarian” administration.
Mr Rizvi further claimed that Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment and the restrictions placed on her medical treatment were part of a deliberate strategy, arguing that she would not have approved projects he characterised as harmful to national interests.
The BNP leader also warned that Bangladesh’s natural resources, including coal and gas reserves, are increasingly drawing the attention of foreign powers. He alleged that regional and global actors were attempting to influence the country’s energy sector to gain control over these resources.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Marufa Rahman, president of the Bogura Media and Cultural Forum, while the event was moderated by its general secretary, Sujan Mahmud.
The commemorative photo exhibition will remain open to the public for the next two days.
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