Senior lawyer and BNP Chairperson’s adviser Advocate Md Fazlur Rahman has denied making controversial remarks branding the organisers of the August 5 uprising as “black force,” calling the claim a “fabrication” and challenging journalists to produce full evidence.
Speaking in front of the Supreme Court’s Annex Building on Monday, Fazlur Rahman dismissed the allegations as misleading clips circulating online. “I did not say that Jamaat black power caused August 5th. That could be fabricated. Listen to all my statements,” he said, demanding transparency in media reporting.
When pressed by reporters, he insisted: “Show me the proof where I said this. Play the entire statement. Just quoting two lines from a YouTube video won’t suffice. I did not make any such comment. If you can prove it by watching the full video, I will personally apologise.”
The remarks come after Fazlur Rahman was issued a show-cause notice by the BNP late Sunday evening, delivered to his residence by a messenger around 9:00pm. The party has asked him to respond within 24 hours over a series of controversial and allegedly misleading statements he has made regarding the July-August mass uprising.
Accusations, threats, and a freedom fighter’s stand
Fazlur Rahman also revealed that he has received death threats from two YouTubers based in France, whom he alleged are linked to Jamaat-e-Islami. “They want to kill me,” he said, standing firm. “But as a freedom fighter who represented 1,200 freedom fighters in 1971, I will never compromise on the truth of our Liberation War.”
He recounted how students have been gathering near his home at Concord Building, just opposite the Anti-Corruption Commission, chanting slogans against him. “Every morning, seven to eight boys and girls shout slogans in front of my house. Now they want to incite a mob. But I’m not afraid of death or intimidation.”
Asserting his constitutional rights, he added: “I have the right to live. If anyone feels hurt by my words, let them file a case, let them arrest me through due process. But why threaten to kill me? As a freedom fighter, don’t I have the same right to life?”
BNP’s internal tensions mount
The show-cause notice marks a growing rift within the BNP leadership, as senior figures distance themselves from Fazlur Rahman’s increasingly polarising public statements. Once a trusted legal aide to Khaleda Zia, his recent comments, particularly on the role of various groups in the student-led uprising, have sparked backlash both within the party and among civil society.
While Fazlur Rahman confirmed he will respond to the notice, he framed the controversy as part of a broader campaign to silence dissenting voices. “Now, a lot of things are being fabricated,” he said. “But if it’s proven I said those words, I’ll apologise. Until then, I stand by the truth.”
As the BNP navigates a complex political landscape in the post-Awami League era, the Fazlur Rahman episode underscores the challenges of balancing internal discipline with freedom of expression, especially when the stakes include national history, accountability, and survival.