Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today urged the voters to cast their ballots for candidates of their choice to elect honest and capable candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections slated for February 12, 2026. ‘You are the owner of the country. You will decide who will run this country on behalf of you for the next five years. Vote for the candidate of your choice. Choose an honest and capable candidate. Vote thoughtfully,’ he said.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Chief Adviser made the call in a video message at the inaugural ceremony of the ten voting vehicles – known as the Super Caravan – to conduct a nationwide campaign on the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter. Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed, and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam formally inaugurated the voting vehicles by cutting the ribbon at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban here this afternoon.
Prof Yunus emphasized that the government aims to facilitate an election free from fear and obstruction, where the will of the people is expressed freely and fearlessly. He stated, ‘The government is determined to ensure such an environment’. Highlighting the critical moment facing the country with national parliamentary elections and the referendum ahead, he noted that a ‘super caravan’ of 10 voting vehicles has begun its journey.
These vehicles will travel across all 64 districts and 300 upazilas of the country, the Chief Adviser said, adding that the caravans will go door to door to deliver information about the election and the referendum, create awareness about voting rights, and spread the message of democracy.
Prof Yunus addressed the nation, stating, ‘Voting rights are not anyone’s kindness- it is our constitutional rights. Through exercising this right, we decide which path our future will take’. He stressed that ensuring a free, fair, and participatory election is not only the responsibility of the government but also the responsibility of every citizen of the state.
Describing the ‘Super Caravan’ as more than just a convoy of vehicles, Prof Yunus portrayed it as a bearer of the joy of democracy. This convoy will convey the significance of a single vote and remind citizens that democracy is strengthened through participation rather than inactivity.
The Chief Adviser made a special appeal to the youth, women voters, and first-time voters, urging them to come forward, ask questions, learn, understand, and cast their votes. ‘Your decisions will shape the future Bangladesh- the new Bangladesh,’ he added.
Prof Yunus also noted that voters will cast another vote in this election-on the July Charter. ‘This charter was prepared through meetings with all political parties over nine months. If the people of the country accept this charter, I firmly believe the country will move forward safely for many years. If you support this charter, you must cast ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum,’ he said.
Calling for collective participation, Professor Yunus said, ‘Let’s all together make this democratic journey successful. Let’s vote-for ourselves, for the country, for future generations, and for a new world’.