BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, has called on the youth of Bangladesh to cast their first votes in favor of the party’s electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy. Addressing a rally virtually from London, he stated, “Let the first vote of youth be for the sheaf of paddy.”
The event, organized by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, took place in Dhaka’s Shahbagh on Sunday as part of a month-long program marking the anniversary of the July–August mass uprising.
In his speech, Tarique Rahman appealed to party activists to spread this message among the new generation of voters. He highlighted that nearly 40 million new voters have been added to the electoral roll over the past decade and a half, many of whom were denied their right to vote under what he described as a fascist regime. He stressed that the upcoming national election offers an opportunity to restore that right and implement BNP’s vision for a self-reliant Bangladesh.
Addressing the JCD members, he said, “Of the country’s 130 million voters, around 40 million have become eligible over the last 15 years. Although you are voters, the fascist circle deprived you of your voting rights. Now is the chance to reclaim that right and build a better future. I call on all, including the 30 million who were previously denied the opportunity to vote, to support our cause.”
He further urged students and the youth to amplify this message among their peers, especially those voting for the first time.
Earlier, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addressed the gathering and said the people are awaiting the next general election, expected in February. He stated that during a recent meeting in London, the party leadership, including acting chairman Tarique Rahman and interim government advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, outlined plans for an election in February. According to him, the people are looking forward to both the polls and the return of Tarique Rahman to the country.
The rally formally began around 3:15 PM with a recitation from the Holy Quran followed by the national anthem.
Chhatra Dal activists from across the country had been instructed to join the event in Dhaka. Since morning, groups of supporters arrived at the Shahbagh venue, some waving national and party flags.
