Diplomatic Corresspondent

BNP has said that the statement made by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova contradicts the 'desire of the Bangladeshi people for the restoration of democracy.'

On Thursday, Maria Zakharova accused US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter Haas of aiding the opposition to hold anti-government rallies in Bangladesh.

In her X (formerly twitter) handle, Maria said, "At the end of October, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas met with a member of the local opposition to discuss plans for organising anti-government rallies."

"Such actions amount to nothing less than gross interference in internal affairs," she said.

Her remark was also posted on the official Facebook page of the Russian Embassy in Dhaka.

In a press release signed by BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, BNP has criticised the statement.

“No such unexpected and unprecedented allegations have been raised previously that any foreign diplomat has assisted the BNP in organising a rally. Making such baseless statements goes against the desire of the Bangladeshi people for the restoration of democracy,” read the press release.

Describing the Russian spokesperson’s statement regarding the US Ambassador Peter Hass as “wrong” and “misinterpreted”, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, "Awami League has tainted history by snatching people's voting rights through manipulated elections in both 2014 and 2018.”

“No participatory and acceptable election is possible by maintaining the current government led by the current prime minister," he also said.

He claimed that the public has "moral support" for their peaceful demonstration programmes.

Terming Russia as an age-old friend of Bangladesh, Rizvi said that people of this country believe that Russia would honour the democratic sentiment of Bangladeshi people.

“Moreover, no other country would offer unexpected support to the incumbent government by going against the public desire,” he added.