Sylhet, Jan 22 (V7N) — BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday called for unity to establish people’s rights and empower citizens beyond merely restoring voting and freedom of speech.

He made the remarks while addressing an election rally at the Government Alia Madrasa ground in Sylhet city on January 22.

“We have to unite against falsehood, stubbornness and deception. We must stand together in ‘Take Back Bangladesh’,” Tarique Rahman said, adding that although the country has been freed from tyranny, true democracy requires economic and social empowerment of the people so they can stand on their own feet.

Seeking prayers and support from the people, he urged voters to ensure the victory of the ‘sheaf of paddy’, the BNP’s electoral symbol.

During his speech, Tarique Rahman posed a series of religious questions to the audience, asking who owns the Kaaba, the earth, the heavens and the universe. When the crowd responded “Allah” in unison, he said that only Allah is the true owner of everything, and questioned the credibility of political promises that claim to give what humans do not own.

He warned voters to be cautious of parties that make promises before elections but fail to fulfill them afterward, saying such practices amount to deceiving the people.

Tarique Rahman also criticized elections held over the past one and a half decades, alleging that ballot boxes were stolen, uncontested and secret elections were conducted, and that these processes deprived citizens of their voting and political rights.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Tarique Rahman’s wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, along with BNP-nominated candidates and senior party leaders, were present at the rally.

END/SMA/AJ