BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday alleged that there is a conspiracy underway to obstruct the upcoming national parliamentary election and urged people to remain vigilant.
He made the comments while addressing election rallies in Sirajganj and Tangail in the afternoon.
Earlier in the day, at around 11am, Tarique Rahman left Bogra’s Hotel Naz Garden for Dhaka by bus, marking the final day of his three-day tour of the northern region.
On the way, he addressed a roadside gathering in Sherpur, Bogra, where hundreds of people were seen lining both sides of the road to greet him.
At around 4pm, Tarique Rahman joined an election rally at the BSCIC Industrial Park in Sirajganj.
Addressing the gathering, he said: “We carried out movements and struggles. Along with our leaders and activists, the people of Bangladesh sacrificed their lives, which led to the fall of autocracy. Now we have a new responsibility before us — rebuilding the country. Everyone must work together and move forward in nation-building.”
He also promised to address unemployment by establishing new industrial parks in Sirajganj, Pabna and across the country, develop agro-based industries in the region, revive the handloom sector and create international markets for its products, and set up vocational institutes.
In the evening, Tarique Rahman joined another election rally in Tangail, where he said: “Certain quarters are trying to obstruct voting in different ways. Their people are going to households, especially targeting women, trying to collect NID numbers and bKash numbers, and misleading them.”
He added: “The mothers and sisters present here today, and the brothers as well, should inform and warn their family members if such incidents occur in their homes. Elders must also be cautioned. Those who engage in such unethical acts before the vote, if given the chance, will sell the country.”
Tarique Rahman further said: “The coming days are for rebuilding the country. They are for constructive politics, for changing people’s destinies, and for a new journey for the nation.
“So if we remain united and vigilant, no one will be able to snatch away our rights, Inshallah.”
Urging voters to be proactive on polling day, the BNP chairman said people should prepare in advance to go to polling centres early in the morning and remain alert so that no one can cast votes in their name.
During the two days of campaigning in the northern region, Tarique Rahman addressed four election rallies in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Bogra and Rangpur. On the final day, after concluding rallies in Sirajganj and Tangail, he left for Dhaka at around 6:30pm.
