BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has formally launched his party’s election campaign ahead of the 13th parliamentary polls, calling on voters to support the Sheaf of Paddy symbol to restore democratic practice, tackle corruption and rebuild state institutions.
Addressing a large rally at Aliya Madrassah playground in Sylhet on Thursday, Tarique said the upcoming election was not simply a routine political contest but a decisive vote to reshape the country’s future. Tens of thousands of supporters began gathering at the venue from early morning, carrying placards, festoons and drums, turning the ground into a sea of party colours.
“If we want to return to democratic practice and change the fate of the people, we must cast our votes in favour of Sheaf of Paddy,” he said, urging citizens to take part actively in the polls. He described the election as one aimed at rebuilding the nation, restructuring the state and firmly establishing people’s rule.
Tarique warned supporters to remain alert against any attempt to manipulate the voting process, alleging that efforts were underway to steal votes in a manner similar to previous elections. Referring to recent reports circulating in newspapers and on social media, he claimed that postal ballots sent abroad, including to Middle Eastern countries, had been looted.
“The way the ousted government stole your votes, conspiracies are being hatched to steal votes again,” he said, adding that public vigilance was crucial to ensuring a credible election.
He said that if BNP formed the government, it would govern the country on the basis of justice and fairness, drawing inspiration from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He argued that governance rooted in justice was essential for protecting people’s rights and strengthening democratic institutions.
In a sharp attack on Jamaat-e-Islami, Tarique accused the party of misleading voters by promising a so-called “ticket to heaven”. He said heaven and hell belonged solely to Almighty Allah and questioned whether such claims amounted to deceiving the public. “If someone claims to give what does not belong to human beings, is that not misleading people and leading them towards shirk?” he asked.
Tarique also criticised Jamaat over its role during the country’s 1971 Liberation War, saying that history could not be erased. “People saw your role in 1971,” he said. “Had that role been in favour of the country and its people, hundreds of thousands of people would not have had to sacrifice their lives.” He added that the suffering endured during the war had shaped public understanding of Jamaat’s historical position more than five decades ago.
Highlighting what he described as sustained repression over the past 16 years, Tarique referred to the arrest and harassment of opposition leaders and activists, the enforced disappearance of BNP leader M Ilias Ali from Sylhet, and what he said was the country’s fragile economic condition. He claimed that the nation had now been freed from autocracy and had begun a journey towards restoring democracy, though that process remained incomplete.
Outlining BNP’s policy priorities, Tarique said his party would introduce family cards, farmers’ cards and health cards if elected, alongside programmes for canal excavation and employment generation for the jobless. He said the slogan “Take Back Bangladesh” went beyond safeguarding democracy and included ensuring economic and social justice, particularly for farmers and women.
In a separate rally in Moulvibazar, Tarique reiterated BNP’s commitment to protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty, arguing that restoring the democratic process and ensuring freedom of expression were central to that goal. He claimed that elections held under BNP governments in the past, including municipal and union council polls, were conducted in a largely fair manner.
“When Sheaf of Paddy was in power, people could speak freely and criticise the government,” he said. “If mistakes were made, people could point them out. No one was subjected to enforced disappearance or killing.”
Speaking at another rally in Habiganj, Tarique pledged to eradicate all forms of organised corruption if BNP came to power. He said corruption had spread across state institutions over the past decade and a half, with public money looted and smuggled abroad.
“We want to rein in corruption in all its forms,” he said, calling on citizens to unite against what he described as the “monstrous grip” of corruption. He added that the country did not belong to any individual or group but to the people alone.
Pointing towards injured and oppressed individuals seated near the stage, Tarique said the opportunity to vote had come as a result of the sacrifices made during the July Uprising, when people shed blood and lost their lives. He warned that this opportunity must not be wasted and stressed that governance must be based on justice to ensure citizens received their rightful entitlements.
The Sylhet rally was chaired by BNP district president M Qayyum Chowdhury and conducted by metropolitan acting president Rezaul Hasan Koyes Ludi. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with senior leaders from Sylhet and Sunamganj, also addressed the gathering.
Tarique was also scheduled to address further rallies at Kuttapara playground in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria, Bhairab Stadium in Kishoreganj, an area adjacent to Narsingdi municipality, and Gausia in Araihazar–Rupganj of Narayanganj district as he returned to Dhaka.
