BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has called upon the nation to remain vigilant to ensure that no one can snatch away the people’s right to vote or manipulate election results through conspiracies.
Speaking at an election rally in Mirpur on Sunday, just three days before the 13th National Parliamentary Election, he emphasized the need for voters to guard their mandates.
Call for Vigilance at Dhaka-14 Rally
Addressing a massive crowd at the National Bangla High School ground in support of BNP candidate Sanjida Islam (Tuli) for the Dhaka-14 constituency, Tarique Rahman warned against any repeat of “dummy elections.”
“You must remain alert and watchful so that no one can imprison your votes in boxes through ‘me-and-dummy’ elections,” he stated. “Do not let anyone hijack your right to vote or change the outcome through conspiracy.”
He further added that the BNP is committed to realistic goals. “We do not want to present any promise before you that Allah has not given humans the capacity to fulfill. We only promise what is within our reach to achieve.”
Tarique Rahman also alleged that a certain quarter is attempting to confuse the public using religion and engaging in various conspiracies. He claimed that members of an opposing group had already been caught creating fake seals and collecting NID and bKash numbers from unsuspecting women to mislead them.
Criticizing Past Governance
Without naming any specific party, the BNP Chairman criticized the historical role of certain political forces, accusing them of working against the people during the Liberation War and siding with autocrats during the 1990s uprising.
Regarding the development of the last 16 years, he remarked, “There has been ‘mega development’ in the name of ‘mega projects,’ but the common people saw no real change. These projects were designed only to fill the ‘mega pockets’ of a select few.”
Vision for a “New Bangladesh”
Earlier in the day, Tarique Rahman addressed another election rally at the Lal Math ground in Pallabi for Dhaka-16 candidate Aminul Haque. There, he outlined the party’s vision for state reconstruction and public welfare.
Key pledges included:
- Family Cards: Monthly government assistance for every housewife to ensure economic self-reliance.
- Agriculture Reform: Introduction of “Farmer Cards” and the waiver of agricultural loans up to 10,000 BDT, including interest.
- Youth Employment: Establishing vocational institutes and IT training centers in every district to promote freelancing and technical skills.
- Expatriate Support: Providing low-interest loans for those seeking overseas employment so they do not have to sell their land.
- Infrastructure: Reintroducing the canal-digging program initiated by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to solve Dhaka’s waterlogging issues.
Tarique Rahman concluded by asserting that the main goal of a BNP-led government would be to change the destiny of the people, emphasizing a “zero-tolerance” policy against corruption to ensure the benefits of development reach every doorstep.
