NATORE, Feb 4, 2026 (BSS) - National Citizen Party (NCP) Spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan today said people of Bangladesh are prepared to sacrifice their lives, if necessary, to protect their right to vote and prevent any attempt to seize power through a manipulated election. "Through rigged elections, Sheikh Hasina came to power three times. The people of Bangladesh forced her to leave the country by sacrificing their lives. If anyone thinks they can again come to power through a staged election by using the administration, they should not assume they will escape consequences like Sheikh Hasina," he said. Asif, also chairman of NCP Election Management Committee, was addressing an election procession in Singra upazila of Natore district this afternoon in support of SM Zargis Kadir, the 11-party electoral alliance candidate for the Natore-3 (Singra) constituency.  The procession was held beside the road in front of Singra bus stand. Criticising the role of the administration and the Election Commission, the NCP spokesperson said recent incidents indicate a growing threat to democracy. "You have seen on social media that a presiding officer in Panchagarh was asking people to vote for a particular symbol. We believe this is a serious threat to democracy," he said. "As the election draws closer, the administration is revealing its old character. We are working to build a Bangladesh based on justice and good governance. It is the responsibility of all of us to make that goal successful, and we hope you will fulfil that responsibility," he added. 11-party alliance candidate for Natore-3 SM Zargis Kadir, NCP Joint Convener and Election Management Committee Secretary Monira Sharmin, NCP district senior joint member secretary Hafizur Rahman and joint convener Tahash Noor also addressed on the occasion.

RANGPUR, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement held a 'Yes' March here in the city on Monday afternoon in support of the upcoming referendum, calling for what it described as a revolutionary transformation in line with the spirit of the July Uprising. Ahead of the march, a documentary advocating the 'Yes' vote in the referendum and the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections was screened from a publicity van at the city's Public Library Ground. The 'Yes' March procession, led by Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Central Committee President Rifat Rashid and Chief Coordinator Hasib Al Islam, began from the Public Library Ground and marched through key streets of the city. During the rally, participants urged voters to cast 'Yes' votes in the referendum and the parliamentary elections to help build what they termed the desired Bangladesh envisioned by the July Revolution. Rifat Rashid, Hasib Al Islam, and other central and local leaders of the movement addressed the gathering. They said the Rangpur programme was part of a nationwide 'Yes March' campaign aimed at mobilizing public support for the referendum. Rifat Rashid said a 'Yes' vote is essential for building a non-discriminatory, justice-based state. "A new Bangladesh has emerged through the blood of martyrs, but various quarters are still conspiring to undermine the July Uprising," he said, adding that the movement would continue to resist such attempts. Hasib alleged that the government and political parties were not giving adequate importance to the referendum and criticized what he described as a lack of awareness campaigns. He also warned that public rejection would follow if efforts were made to oppose the 'Yes' vote. Earlier in the day, leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement visited the graves of martyr Abu Sayeed in Babanpur village and martyr Md Sohag in Baro Paharpur village of Pirganj upazila. They also met with the families of the martyrs to inquire about their wellbeing.