Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has called upon the people of Bangladesh to cast their vote in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, asserting that the ballot will serve as a definitive response to 17 years of silence and fascism.
Addressing the nation on Tuesday evening, he noted that the general election and a referendum on the “July National Charter” are scheduled to take place across the country in just one day’s time.
The chief adviser described the polls as a “historic milestone” in the nation’s democratic journey, marking the first national election following the July mass uprising.
He emphasised that the vote represents the constitutional expression of the people’s awakening against long-standing grievances, discrimination, and injustice. “Your one vote will not only elect a government; it will answer 17 years of silence.
It will answer fascism, reconstitute the nation, and prove that this country will never again let the voices of the youth, women, and the struggling masses be lost,” he said.
A new beginning for a new generation
Addressing the younger generation and women, Yunus highlighted that those long deprived of their voting rights now have the opportunity to make a genuine decision.
He lauded women as “frontline warriors” of the July uprising and a driving force of the national economy, noting that this election represents a new beginning for them.
The chief adviser further urged all candidates to place the greater interest of the nation above personal or party agendas, regardless of the election outcome. He remarked that while victory is a part of democracy, defeat is also an inseparable truth, and called upon everyone to commit to building a new, just, and inclusive Bangladesh after the polls.
Record Participation and Peaceful Campaigning
According to the chief adviser, a record 51 political parties are contesting the election – the highest number in the country’s history – with over 2,000 candidates, including independents.
While praising the overall peaceful atmosphere during the campaign compared to previous years, he expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in sporadic violence following the announcement of the election schedule.
He stated that such violence is unacceptable in any civilised state practicing democracy.
Defining the state’s future
Yunus reminded the public that the upcoming day is a defining moment for the state’s future direction and the fate of future generations.
He explained that citizens would participate in two votes: one to elect a new government and a concurrent referendum to determine the future structure of the state through the July National Charter.
Concluding his speech, the chief adviser paid solemn tribute to the martyrs of the Great Liberation War and the July mass uprising.
He stated that the nation remains eternally indebted to their sacrifices, noting that neither the election nor the referendum would have been possible without the self-sacrifice of the people and the “July warriors.”
