Jashore: BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has urged all to resist any attempt to delay vote counting, mentioning that there is talk in the air that this time vote counting will take much longer. ‘If anyone tries to take advantage by creating excuses that vote counting will take longer, you must resist it,’ he said while speaking as the chief guest at an election rally in Jashore, which marked his first-ever political visit to the district.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Jashore district BNP organized the rally at Jashore Upashahar College ground. From morning, the rally venue, the adjacent Eidgah ground, Badsha Faisal School ground, and surrounding streets became crowded with BNP leaders, activists, supporters, and the general people. After addressing an election rally in Khulna in the morning, a helicopter carrying Tarique Rahman landed near Upashahar College ground at 2:18 PM. He started his speech at 2:37 PM and spoke for 40 minutes.
During the rally, Tarique Rahman handed over the ‘Dhaner Shish’ (sheaf of paddy) symbol to 22 BNP candidates from seven districts: Jashore, Jhenaidah, Magura, Narail, Kushtia, Meherpur, and Chuadanga. Then he called upon everyone to ensure their victory.
Without naming any party, the BNP Chairman alleged, “They are now sending their people to mothers and sisters to collect NID and bKash numbers.” He criticized the proposal of establishing honest governance as dishonest, questioning how one could achieve honesty with a dishonest start.
The BNP Chairman expressed concerns over a political party’s attempts to make the election controversial and obstruct it. He urged people from all walks of life to remain vigilant so that no one can conspire to snatch away the right to vote again.
While explaining his plans for rebuilding the country, Tarique Rahman shared some of his plans for developing the country’s south-western region. He assured that if he can form a government through people’s votes, steps would be taken to export flowers from Jashore for the benefit of growers. He also mentioned initiatives to make sugar mills operational in the region.
Recalling the memory of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman inaugurating the excavation of Ulashi Khal in Jashore, Tarique Rahman promised to personally participate in canal cutting if BNP forms the government. He invited everyone to join him in these efforts and pledged to restart the GK Project in the Jashore-Kushtia region.
Without naming anyone, Tarique Rahman criticized a political party for its views on keeping women confined within homes. He cited Hazrat Khadija (RA), a successful businesswoman, emphasizing that no one has the right to insult working women. He affirmed BNP’s belief in men and women working together to rebuild and advance the country.
He informed that if BNP forms a government with people’s votes, women will receive ‘family cards’ and farmers ‘farmer cards,’ explaining their necessity and benefits. He also highlighted plans to create employment for the country’s many educated unemployed.
Jashore District BNP President Syed Saberul Haque Sabu presided over the event. BNP Central Committee Vice Chairman Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Vice Chairman Professor Nargis Begum, the party’s Khulna Division Acting Organizing Secretary Anindya Islam Amit, and top leaders from Jashore and Kushtia regions also spoke at the event.