BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday said Bangladesh is moving forward on the path of democracy through the sacrifices of many people but ‘some quarters’ inside the country are trying to hatch conspiracies ahead of the national election.
“In the past few days, reports have appeared in newspapers and on social media about how postal ballots sent to various countries including in the Middle East have been stolen. Those who have fled the country who had stolen people’s votes and in the same way, a similar plot has started again,” he said while addressing a mass rally at Government Alia Madrasha ground in Sylhet city.
He urged people to remain vigilant against what he described as efforts to manipulate votes.
Tarique said the people of Bangladesh demonstrated in July-August 2024 that when people remain united they can resist any conspiracy.
He said millions have gathered as a result of sacrifices made over the last 15 years.
“To establish your political rights, your right to speak, your right to freedom of expression and your right to security you have gathered here today. In the struggle to secure these rights we lost Ilias Ali, Junayed, Dinar and many others.”
Tarique said his party wants to stand by farmers across Bangladesh and would restart canal excavation programme to improve irrigation and water management if BNP wins the election.
He said the canal excavation drive during Ziaur Rahman’s tenure helped address irrigation needs for farmers and eased water shortages and pledged to revive the programme to bring water back to canals, wetlands and rivers.
Tarique also accused the previous government of looting public money in the name of development over the past 15–16 years.
Sylhet sets the stage as Tarique ready to launch BNP’s election campaign
“You surely remember how a few years ago water was released from over there and the entire Sylhet city went under floodwater. And how, over the last 15 to 16 years, this country was mortgaged to another country. That is why I said “Not Delhi, not Pindi, not any other country—Bangladesh comes first.”
He said ‘Take Back Bangladesh’ campaign is not only about protecting democracy but also about wider commitments including canal dredging, standing by farmers, empowering women and creating jobs.
Tarique said women make up about half of the country’s population and his party wants to make them self-reliant.
He said his party wants to deliver ‘family cards’ to vulnerable, low-income and middle-income families in villages and cities under which assistance would be channelled through a mother, sister or wife.
He also highlighted youth unemployment, saying millions of young people remain jobless and pledged to create employment opportunities.