Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee member Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has sparked political speculation by claiming that a “peculiar event” is set to unfold in the country within the next few days.
Speaking at a discussion marking the 45th founding anniversary of the Jatiyatabdi Swechchhasebak Dal at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Tuesday , August 19, Hafiz did not elaborate on the nature of the anticipated development but used the platform to launch a scathing critique of what he described as foreign interference in Bangladesh’s constitutional affairs.
Hafiz claimed that while elected representatives globally amend constitutions through democratic processes, in Bangladesh, “a group of unelected individuals, some from America, some from London, and others from different countries, who had no role in our 17-year-long struggle or the July-August Revolution are now attempting to dismantle the Constitution of Bangladesh.”
He stressed that the Constitution is the bedrock of national sovereignty and warned against external forces shaping the country’s political future. “This is not just about politics—it’s about identity, history, and independence,” he said.
In a passionate appeal to national pride, Hafiz rejected the notion that Bangladesh remains a poor nation despite economic indicators. “The world measures us by per capita income,” he said. “But true wealth lies in our people. Bangladesh is richer than many so-called superpowers in Europe and America not in dollars, but in courage and sacrifice. Because children like Abu Sayeed were born here.”
Hafiz paid tribute to BNP’s founder, late President Ziaur Rahman, calling him the “voice of the nation” during the 1971 Liberation War. “When political parties went silent, when no one could give hope to the people, Major Ziaur Rahman stepped forward and declared independence on behalf of Bangabandhu. He started the war when others turned their backs.”
Sohel mocks Jamaat’s shifting alliances
BNP Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel took a sharp jab at Jamaat-e-Islami, questioning its ideological consistency. “I can’t understand the ideology of a party that aligns with BNP today, with Awami League tomorrow, and when it’s with no one, still holds people captive within it. What kind of politics is this, brother?”
Using poetic imagery, Sohel mocked Jamaat’s sudden calls for reform: “They say the moon of Panchami sets and suddenly one wants to die. In 1996, Jamaat suddenly allied with the Awami League and helped bring to power a party that, between 1972 and 1975, was responsible for genocide. And now they talk about reforms? Have they reformed themselves?”
In a poignant moment, Sohel addressed BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, who remains in exile in London. “The blood cells of your father, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, may still linger in the corners of the Chittagong Circuit House. Dear leader, those red and white blood cells are calling you. Even if not for us, return at the call of your father’s blood.”
He added, “I know you don’t believe in personal revenge. But you can avenge your father’s murder by fulfilling the dream he left behind. We believe in you.”
The event, chaired by Swechchhasebak Dal President SM Jilani and moderated by BNP General Secretary Rajib Ahsan, brought together key party figures, including Standing Committee members Selima Rahman, Nazrul Islam Khan, and Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, along with Organizing Secretary Fazlul Haque Milan, Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, and other top leaders.