Tarique pledges development, democracy, and support for women, religious leaders
He stressed the role of women in national development, calling them the “wealth of the country”
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has called on people to uphold the sacrifices of those who were martyred, disappeared, or killed in the past, saying the right to vote earned through their struggle must be firmly established.
"We cannot let their sacrifices go in vain," he said, emphasising that establishing democracy is key to taking the country forward.
Speaking at a rally at Mirpur National Bangla High School in Dhaka-14 today (8 February), Tarique highlighted the importance of political rights, saying the nation's development depends on securing the economic independence of all citizens, regardless of party or profession.
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He stressed the role of women in national development, calling them the "wealth of the country," and vowed that their full participation in the development journey would be ensured under a BNP government.
Tarique also pledged support for religious leaders, including imams and muazzins of mosques, promising that the government would provide assistance to help them lead dignified lives.
Criticising the previous government, he said mega projects have benefited only a few, with little improvement in the lives of ordinary people.
"If BNP comes to power, a bridge will be built on the Turag River," he added.
Indicating Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Tarique said, "A group is misleading people in the name of religion and spreading false narratives. At the same time, they are hatching conspiracies. Members of their party have been caught making fake seals, and their people collected NID and bKash numbers from ordinary mothers and sisters."
"They took part in elections under dictatorship, abandoning the people of the 1990s, and there are multiple instances of them leaving citizens behind at different times."
Calling for vigilance ahead of upcoming polls, Tarique urged citizens to protect their voting rights.
"Be alert so that no one can lock your votes in a box through a dummy election or snatch away your voting rights again," he said.
