BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday night urged his party leaders, workers and supporters to remain at polling centres until the counting of votes is completed on the  election day to 'foil any attempt to manipulate the results'.

“On the polling day, you must wake up for Tahajjud prayers. After Tahajjud, go to your polling stations and offer Fajr prayers together in congregations. Once the prayers are finished, stand in lines in front of the polling centres,” he said.

Addressing an election rally at Chouddagram School ground around, the BNP chairman also instructed them not to leave the polling stations after balloting.

“Since you will be voting for the 'Sheaf of Paddy', no conspiracy must be allowed. You must guard the polling stations and the ballot boxes until voting ends and counting is finished,” he added.

Tarique then asked the crowd if they agreed, to which they replied in unison 'Yes', prompting him to respond 'Alhamdulillah'.

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The rally drew thousands from surrounding villages, with small processions entering the venue from the evening. The field was fully packed before Maghrib prayers.

The Cumilla-11 (Chouddagram) constituency has drawn attention this time as BNP has nominated Kamrul Huda while Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher is also contesting.

Tarique outlined his plans and said the BNP wants to implement its programmes if voted to power. “Some people over the last two or three days have been saying that we are trying to mislead the public with our promises.”

He then asked the crowd, “Don't you know Kamrul (BNP candidate Kamrul Huda)? Don’t you know me? Tell me, what benefit will we get by deceiving people? We will have to come to you again. We are in politics and we have to come to you. What will we gain by misleading people?”

Tarique said BNP has already governed the country several times. “Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah, BNP has run the country multiple times. We have the experience. If there is the experience, then there is an understanding of how to adopt a policy and implement it in stages. In the present context, BNP is the only political party with such experiences.”

Describing Chauddagram as a 'granary belt', the BNP chief said his party plans to introduce a farmer card for marginal and small growers, provide government honorariums for mosque and madrasa imams and muezzins, and create additional employment opportunities for them.

He also said if BNP returns to power, he will come back to Chauddagram to start excavation work to rebuild local canals.

Wearing a red cap and coughing repeatedly during his speech, Tarique told the crowd that he has caught a cold and is feeling feverish.

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“So I cannot speak loudly. Please listen quietly and attentively to what I am saying,” he requested.

The BNP leader said his party is focused on its plans and is not bothered by negative comments and false campaign by the opponents.

“They only attack BNP. Let them. We have no objection. We are focused on what we can do for the country and for you. If we form government by your votes, we will begin working to implement our plans one after another. Who says what does not matter,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Tarique addressed large rallies at Chattogram’s Polo Ground and Feni Pilot School field.

He then spoke at Chouddagram and later at the Soagazi Digbaji field where BNP candidates from Comilla and Chandpur also spoke.

Throughout these events, Tarique outlined BNP’s policy plans and urged people to vote for the 'Sheaf of Paddy'.

He is also scheduled to address rallies at Daudkandi’s central Eidgah field and Narayanganj’s Balur Math as part of his second day of nationwide election campaigning.