BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday urged first-time voters across Bangladesh to cast their first ballot for the party’s “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol in the upcoming national parliamentary elections.
He made the appeal during a rally organized by the BNP’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, at Shahbagh in Dhaka, where thousands of supporters filled the surrounding streets from Katabon to Matsya Bhaban.
“Through the leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal, and my dear student brothers and sisters, I want to appeal to all young voters,” Tarique Rahman said. “Let the first vote of youth be for the Sheaf of Paddy.”
A sea of party flags washed over Shahbagh on Tuesday as Chhatra Dal members from across the country flooded into the capital to mark the anniversary of the July-August uprising.
In a keynote aimed squarely at this new generation, Tarique Rahman issued a dual challenge: to forge themselves into a disciplined political force while building character beyond the protest line. He then armed them with the staggering number at the heart of their fight: the nearly 40 million new voters registered in the last 15 years.
“You are voters,” he declared, “but the fascist regime stole your right to vote. This upcoming national election is your chance to seize it back.”
He outlined BNP’s plans for youth and education reforms, which include:
- Employment-oriented education and skill development
- Training in e-commerce, outsourcing, and ICT
- Language programs, including English proficiency
- Opportunities for overseas employment and higher education
- Introducing ICT and technical education from the primary level if elected
So the BNP held this big rally, and you can really see what their game plan is. Tarique Rahman was speaking directly to the students, basically telling them it’s their job to fight fascism and that universities shouldn’t be political playgrounds anymore.
Then Mirza Fakhrul got up and was even more direct, accusing the government of threatening the country itself and making a stark vow that Sheikh Hasina wouldn’t be allowed to “do politics in this country again.”
The whole top brass of the party was there to show support. It’s obvious what’s happening: with the election coming up in February, the BNP is betting everything on young voters. This rally was their big invitation for them to join the cause.
