BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today said the party received hypocrisy as a gift by showing generosity to Jamaat-e-Islami.

"Jamaat-e-Islami first got the opportunity to do politics in this country due to BNP's generosity. Sheikh Mujib banned them, and BNP gave them a chance," he said at a rally in Rajshahi's Bagmara.

He said the party also got BNP's support when they faced adversities during the AL rule.

Referring to Jamaat's recent activities, he said what the Islamist party does best is "hypocrisy".

Addressing a gathering on the 23rd martyrdom anniversary of Professor Abdul Wahab Mondal, a freedom fighter and former BNP leader, Rizvi strongly criticised the previous Awami League government, accusing it of turning Bangladesh into an "oppressive state" where law enforcement agencies and judicial institutions were weaponised against dissent.

"Sheikh Hasina thought nothing would happen to her, that she would never be held accountable. But above all, there is Allah," Rizvi said.

He further alleged that under Hasina's rule, Bangladesh had become excessively dependent on India. "Whatever India wanted, it got. Sheikh Hasina has handed over Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty to them," he said.

Referring to the July uprising, Rizvi claimed that the ruling party was responsible for the deaths and disappearances of many young protesters.

The BNP leader said even Adolf Hitler did not accumulate personal wealth or engage in money laundering, whereas Hasina did.

The rally, attended by BNP leaders and activists from across the region, concluded with a vow to continue their movement against what they described as the former government's "one-party authoritarian rule."