Tangail: BNP Central Publicity Secretary and Tangail Sadar-5 candidate Sultan Salahuddin Tuku today expressed optimism that the people of Bangladesh are increasingly hopeful about experiencing a free and neutral national election on February 12. “Yesterday, the schedule for the upcoming national polls was announced. We welcome this announcement. The people of the country have now begun to breathe the air of democracy,” Tuku remarked during a discussion and doa-mahfil at the Darbar Hall in Santosh, marking the 145th birth anniversary of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani. The program was organized by the Maulana Bhasani Foundation.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Tuku highlighted that voters had been deprived of their franchise in the national elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024, alleging that ballots were cast secretly the night before polling day. He emphasized that over 3.8 crore young voters were unable to exercise their voting rights in previous elections. “This time, they want to cast their votes to elect a people-friendly government. This country belongs to all of us, and together we must build it,” he added.
Tuku also recalled Maulana Bhasani’s lifelong struggle, noting that the veteran leader consistently stood by the oppressed and never compromised with injustice. He emphasized Bhasani’s significant role in inspiring the independence movement, stating, “From the Kagmari Conference, he planted the seeds that later culminated in the declaration of independence by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.”
The discussion was chaired by Professor A K M Mohiuddin, advisor to the Maulana Bhasani Foundation, and featured speeches by former district BNP member-secretary Mahmudul Haque Sanu, upazila BNP president Azgar Ali, and Tangail Sadar Upazila BNP senior joint secretary Azim Uddin Biplob, among others. Earlier, Tuku placed a wreath at the shrine of Maulana Bhasani and offered prayers seeking blessings.