BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman on Thursday alleged that a conspiracy is again underway to deprive people of their voting rights, claiming that a political group has seized ballot papers meant for expatriate voters.
“Over the last 15 years, you were denied the right to vote. Votes were cast at night in the past, and now fresh conspiracies are unfolding. You have seen how one group captured expatriates’ ballot papers. Conspiracies are continuing inside the country. People must remain alert,” he said.
Tarique Rahman made the remarks while addressing a massive public rally at Kuttapara playground in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria at around 10pm on Thursday.
People began gathering at the venue from noon. BNP leaders and activists, along with members of its associate bodies, joined the rally in processions from Brahmanbaria sadar, Sarail, Ashuganj, Nasirnagar, Kasba, Akhaura, Nabinagar and Bancharampur upazilas.
After concluding rallies in Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj, Tarique Rahman arrived at the Brahmanbaria venue at night, triggering cheers across the field. He waved to party leaders and activists and later stepped down from the stage to shake hands with supporters.
Calling on voters to stay vigilant ahead of the 12 February national election, the BNP chairperson said people must remain fully alert to reclaim their voting rights. He urged supporters to go to polling centres after offering tahajjud prayers and to perform fajr prayers near the polling stations before casting votes for the sheaf of paddy symbol.
Tarique Rahman said that over the past 15 years, people were not only stripped of their voting rights but also of their right to speak.
“More than 1,500 people have shed blood and over 25,000 were injured while fighting to restore those rights,” he said. He added that the country was liberated through bloodshed in 1971 and that students and citizens again defended that freedom with blood on 5 August 2024.
He further alleged that members of religious minorities had faced widespread injustice over the past 15 years, with no accountability. To make independence meaningful, he said, unity among people is essential.
During the rally, Tarique Rahman displayed two cards and said that if BNP comes to power, it will implement practical programmes including family cards, farmer cards and skill development initiatives for overseas employment. He reiterated the party slogan: “We will work, we will build the nation — Bangladesh first.”
He also introduced BNP and alliance-nominated candidates for the six parliamentary constituencies of Brahmanbaria and urged voters to ensure their victory.
BNP’s return to state power, he said, would bring overall development to the area through these representatives, “Inshallah”.
The rally was presided over by Engineer Khaled Hossain Mahbub Shyamal, BNP central economic affairs secretary, president of Brahmanbaria district BNP and the party’s nominated candidate for Brahmanbaria-3.
Speakers included Maulana Junaid Al Habib, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam nominee for Brahmanbaria-2; Mushfiqur Rahman, BNP candidate for Brahmanbaria-4 (Kasba-Akhaura); Abdul Mannan, candidate for Brahmanbaria-5 (NabinagarZonayed Saki, Ganosamhati Andolon nominee for Brahmanbaria-6 (Bancharampur); and Abdul Hannan, candidate for Brahmanbaria-1 (Nasirnagar), along with central and local BNP leaders.
District BNP general secretary Md Sirajul Islam conducted the programme.
