BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday urged students and the young generation to stay alert and play an active and responsible role in resisting fascism, extremism and radicalism in Bangladesh in the days ahead.

Speaking virtually at a student rally, he also encouraged first-time voters to cast their vote for BNP’s election symbol, the sheaf of paddy, in the upcoming election to help build a self-reliant and forward-looking Bangladesh through the united efforts of both the young and old.

“I want to draw the attention of students, young people, and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists across the country. The youth and students must remain alert and play a conscious role in preventing the rise or return of fascism, extremism or radicalism in the future days of Bangladesh,” the BNP leader said.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, organised the rally at Shahbagh, drawing a large gathering of leaders and activists from across the country, marking the anniversary of the July-August mass uprising.

Presenting his party’s various plans and programmes to the younger generation at the rally, Tarique Rahman said BNP wants to build Bangladesh the way a mother envisions it with the united efforts of both the young and the old.

Out of nearly 13 crore voters in the country, he said around four crore new voters have been added to the voter list over the past fifteen years. “Although you are voters, the fascist clique had taken away your right to vote.”

With the upcoming national election, the BNP leader said, the young voters have a great opportunity to regain their lost voting rights.

“Taking advantage of this opportunity, we want the support and cooperation of everyone, including the young voters who were deprived of their voting rights over the past decade and a half during the rule of the fugitive autocratic ruler, to implement the plan adopted by BNP to build a self-reliant Bangladesh,” he said.

Through the rally, Tarique made an appeal to all students and the younger generation across the country: “Let your first vote be for the Sheaf of Paddy.”

He also called upon the JCD leaders and workers present at the rally to spread his appeal to all young people and students throughout the country.

“Let us pledge today that we will do whatever is necessary to make ourselves worthy of building the future Bangladesh as dreamed by the martyrs. Let this be today’s pledge: may the first vote of the youth be for the Sheaf of Paddy,” the BNP leader said.

He said the people of Bangladesh no longer want politics based on division, conflict and revenge. “Bangladesh is now a mature country. In today’s Bangladesh, people reject the old politics of hostility and retaliation. They now want a better and more positive political culture.”

The BNP leader also shared several plans, including a complete reform of the education system, job-focused education, building leadership skills, learning English and other languages, promoting e-commerce and outsourcing, supporting talented students for higher education, and creating more job opportunities abroad.

“Our future politics will focus on creating jobs and ensuring a safe workplace. BNP’s goal is to turn today’s population into a skilled and productive national asset,” said Tarique.

He said BNP is also working on a value-based and practical education system that will help students become skilled and responsible citizens.

“In today’s world of globalisation, both men and women have endless opportunities. Because of technology, young people and students must learn how to turn these chances into success. For that, we are making a practical and well-planned policy. BNP wants to share this with the youth so their future path becomes easier,” the BNP leader said.

Tarique blamed Sheikh Hasina’s government for ruining the education system. “They have turned schools and colleges into safe zones for political thugs.”

He stressed the need for technical and hands-on education and said BNP is working to redesign the curriculum with this in mind.

“Besides academic studies, if students are guided early based on their interests like technical or vocational areas they can gain real-life skills,” Tarique explained.

“This kind of practical learning means students won’t have to suffer from unemployment after finishing school, college, or university. With real skills, they won’t have to wait long for a job even after graduating,” he added.

Tarique said this is why BNP is planning to change the education system, giving strong focus to technical and practical learning from school level.

“In today’s digital world, if we want to compete globally using skills and knowledge, then all of you must become skilled in ICT and technical education,” he said.

The BNP leader also called for bringing back Dhaka University’s proud role as a place of learning and research, mentioning its deep ties to Bangladesh’s history and the Liberation War.

He asked student leaders to prepare proposals to solve problems like poor housing and food on campus and said BNP is also looking into similar issues at other universities.

Tarique said students are the future of Bangladesh and that young people will build the country the martyrs dreamt of.

He also said thousands of Chhatra Dal activists have been jailed, tortured, disappeared, killed and attacked. “More than a hundred Chhatra Dal activists were killed during the July movement and over two thousand were arrested. But these sacrifices will not be forgotten,” he said.

The BNP leader remembered those who laid down their lives in various movements—from the Liberation War to the anti-fascist mass uprising of 2024—and prayed for the eternal peace of their souls.

Tarique said students do not need to be connected with any political party, as their main duty is to prepare themselves to become good citizens and capable leaders who can lead the country forward.

He said competent student leaders in every sector can play a key role in building a new and developed Bangladesh.

The rally formally started at 3:16pm on Sunday with the recitation from the Holy Quran, marking the anniversary of the July-August mass uprising.

Students from various educational institutions, including those from outside Dhaka, have joined the rally, along with family members of the JCD martyrs during the July-August movement.

Since morning, thousands of JCD leaders and activists have been gathering in Shahbagh area to attend the rally.

Roads around Shahbagh are packed with JCD activists which has caused traffic congestion in nearby areas.

Police have shut down traffic on Shahbagh, Dhaka University and Matsya Bhaban roads since morning due to the rally.

Earlier, on Wednesday, JCD decided to shift the rally venue from the Central Shaheed Minar to Shahbagh following a request from the National Citizen Party (NCP), which had also planned a rally at the same time and place.