BNP Chairman calls for guarding poll centers to protect voting rights

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman has urged voters and party activists to go beyond merely casting their ballots in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, calling on them to remain at polling stations to ensure a transparent final count. 

Addressing an election rally in Noakhali's Hatiya upazila, virtually on Monday, the BNP leader emphasized that citizens must secure their "due accounts" of the votes cast on election day.

Speaking as the chief guest, Rahman warned of ongoing conspiracies aimed at disrupting the national polls scheduled for February 12. 

He noted that while those who previously stripped the public of their voting rights and freedom of speech have fled the country, new groups are now plotting to derail the democratic process. He called for heightened vigilance among the electorate to thwart any attempts to undermine the election.

The BNP Chairman underscored the importance of collective effort in nation-building, stating that Bangladesh belongs to all citizens regardless of their religious background. 

He remarked that every individual must work hard to rebuild the nation, as it remains the "first and last destination" for its people. 

His speech in Hatiya is part of a series of nationwide campaign stops that began in Sylhet on January 22 and included large-scale gatherings in Chattogram, Feni, and Cumilla over the weekend.

During the rally, Rahman reiterated that the struggle for democracy is not just about a change in power, but about establishing a system where the people's mandate is respected. 

He urged the public to turn out in large numbers on February 12 to not only exercise their franchise but to act as guardians of the ballot boxes until the results are officially declared.