BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed a rally as the chief guest in Sarail, Brahmanbaria as part of the ongoing election campaign. Photo: BSS

BRAHMANBARIA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS)- BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today said the upcoming February 12 election is not just a regular election, but an election to restore the people's right to vote and to speak, which had been taken away over the last 15 years. 

"To establish these rights, many people of the country have sacrificed their lives, thousands have been injured," he said while addressing a rally as the chief guest in Sarail Upazila of the district as part of the ongoing election campaign that started in Sylhet. 
 
At the beginning of his speech, Tarique Rahman apologized for arriving late at the rally venue. He said the delay was due to meeting and greeting thousands of people on the way from Sylhet. He thanked the crowd for waiting patiently.

Tarique Rahman said, "In the so-called elections held over the last 15 years, the people of the country could not truly vote. Not only was the right to vote, but also people's right to speak taken away." 

He said that to restore the voting right, many people have been martyred and hundreds injured in various places of the country, including Brahmanbaria.

Tarique Rahman said that in 1971, the people of Bangladesh fought and liberated the country. On August 5, 2024, people from all classes and professions, irrespective of party or opinion, once again defended their rights and independence. 

He said that during the Liberation War of 1971, people were not judged by religion, whether Muslim, Hindu or of any other faith.

In the same way, he said, when people took to the streets in 2024 to protest the snatching of voting rights, rickshaw pullers, bank officers and employees, businessmen, garment workers, women, and children all participated in the movement. Even then, no one judged anyone by religion or caste.

The BNP Chairman said, "Bangladesh is a country where people of all religions have been living in peace for thousands of years. However, in the last few years, incidents of persecution against minority communities in the country have occurred, and many incidents have not been brought to justice."

"In 2024, the people of the country protected the independence by sacrificing their lives. Nearly a thousand people were martyred and 20,000 to 25,000 people were injured. To give meaning to this sacrifice, Bangladesh must be turned into a country where people of all religions can live safely and peacefully," he added. 

For this, he urged everyone to stay united.

Addressing the gathered crowd, Tarique Rahman said everyone must go to the polling centers early in the morning. He urged people to offer Fajr prayers and stand in line to vote. 

He said that various domestic and foreign conspiracies are still ongoing. Reports have appeared in newspapers and on social media that a group has taken control of ballot papers sent for expatriates. 
 
He alleged that similar conspiracies are happening within the country as well. Therefore, he urged everyone to offer Tahajjud prayers and pray.

Recalling the colleagues who stood by him during the movement and struggle, he said those who took to the streets and fought for people's rights must be made victorious this time.

He urged voters to ensure the victory of candidates carrying the 'Paddy Sheaf' symbol, saying they were the ones who had led from the front in the movement to establish people's voting rights and freedom of expression.

He said that on the way from Sylhet to Brahmanbaria, he witnessed the terrible condition of roads in various areas. He mentioned that roads in various upazilas and unions are broken and badly damaged.

He said that if they can form the government, these roads will be beautifully rebuilt as before, because good roads will benefit the people of the country.

He further said that not only the roads, but the condition of schools and colleges has also deteriorated. Many educational institutions are dilapidated and need repair. At the same time, he highlighted unemployment as a major problem of the country. 

At the rally, he outlined various development plans, including employment for youth, family cards for women, and agricultural cards for farmers.