BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that there is no real difference in character or conduct between former military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Speaking at a press event held at the National Press Club on Thursday, Rizvi alleged that despite their public rivalry, both leaders repeatedly joined hands during critical political moments, undermining democracy and enabling systemic corruption.

“They presented themselves as opponents, but when it mattered, they stood together,” Rizvi said. “Time and again, they choked democracy. Under both regimes, corruption wasn’t incidental, it became institutionalized.”

Rizvi sharply criticized Sheikh Hasina’s 15-and-a-half-year rule, dubbing it “Hasinanomics”, a system, he claimed, where bank loans could be taken without repayment, and borrowers were still eligible for new credit.

“This wasn’t economics, it was financial anarchy,” he said. “Non-repayment became policy. As a result, the nation now carries a staggering Tk 6.5 lakh crore burden in defaulted loans.”

He urged the interim government to take decisive steps to rescue the economy, noting that while some corrective measures have begun, progress remains uneven.

“On one hand, reforms are being discussed; on the other, the economy continues to deteriorate,” Rizvi said. “Unemployment is rising, job creation has stalled, these cannot be ignored.”

Rizvi also questioned the recent disappearance of 832 bhori (about 9.6 kg) of gold from bank vaults. He raised concerns over accountability and suggested the matter may involve individuals close to Sheikh Hasina or her party.

“How did so much gold vanish from secured vaults?” he asked. “And whose gold was it? The truth may soon come to light.”

The event was attended by senior BNP leaders, including Amanullah Aman, Khairul Kabir Khokon, Nazim Uddin Alam, and Mostafizur Rahman Babul. Rizvi’s comments reflect growing opposition scrutiny of economic governance and institutional integrity in the aftermath of the previous government’s collapse.