BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman urged the students and first-time voters to cast their first votes in favour of the party’s electoral symbol — the sheaf of paddy.
Speaking virtually to a rally organised by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in Dhaka's Shahbagh on Sunday, Tarique appealed directly to youths, urging them to rally behind the BNP in the upcoming national election.
“Let the first vote of the youth be for the sheaf of paddy,” he said.
Tarique tasked Chhatra Dal activists with taking his message nationwide.
“I want to draw the attention of students, young people, and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists across the country. The youth and students must remain alert and play a conscious role in preventing the rise or return of fascism, extremism or radicalism in the future days of Bangladesh,” the BNP leader said.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, organised the rally at Shahbagh, drawing a large gathering of leaders and activists from across the country, marking the anniversary of the July-August mass uprising. Presenting his party’s various plans and programmes to the younger generation at the rally, Tarique Rahman said BNP wants to build Bangladesh the way a mother envisions it with the united efforts of both the young and the old.
Out of nearly 13 crore voters in the country, he said around four crore new voters have been added to the voter list over the past 15 years. “Although you are voters, the fascist clique had taken away your right to vote.”
With the upcoming national election, the BNP leader said, the young voters have a great opportunity to regain their lost voting rights.
“Taking advantage of this opportunity, we want the support and cooperation of everyone, including the young voters who were deprived of their voting rights over the past decade and a half during the rule of the fugitive autocratic ruler, to implement the plan adopted by BNP to build a self-reliant Bangladesh,” he said.
Through the rally, Tarique made an appeal to all students and the younger generation across the country: “Let your first vote be for the Sheaf of Paddy.”
He also called upon the JCD leaders and workers present at the rally to spread his appeal to all young people and students throughout the country.
“Let us pledge today that we will do whatever is necessary to make ourselves worthy of building the future Bangladesh as dreamed by the martyrs. Let this be today’s pledge: may the first vote of the youth be for the Sheaf of Paddy.”
Tarique Rahman has called for an end to traditional forms of student politics, urging youth to focus instead on leadership, development, and nation-building.
He also stressed the need for political reform and forward-thinking leadership.
BNP Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel accused India of not only giving refuge to Sheikh Hasina, whom he labeled a "murderer," but also of conspiring to destabilise Bangladesh.
Referring to the Awami League, he declared, "Those who killed our brothers and sisters must be brought to justice on the soil of Bengal."
Echoing the demand, BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie said they repeatedly urged the interim government to initiate Hasina's trial.
JCD president demands trial for killings, enforces disappearances under Hasina regime
In his speech, JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib expressed his gratitude to Tarique Rahman for guiding them in taking part in the July movement.
He also paid tribute to the students and citizens who were martyred during the uprising.
Rakib called on the interim government to identify and initiate the trial process for those responsible for the killings, enforced disappearances, and torture of Chhatra Dal leaders under the "fascist" Hasina regime.
He emphasised that all individuals involved in these crimes must be brought to justice.
"If Hasina is not tried, the people of this country will not forgive us," he warned, stressing that the trial must begin without delay.
He also called for unity among all forces aligned with the goals of the July movement.
Rakibul said, “No one in Bangladesh has the power to stop Chhatra Dal. Those who seek to destabilise the country should know that if Chhatra Dal wants, it can uproot such conspirators. If Tarique Rahman, the guardian of our organisation, gives the order, our leaders and activists can blockade the entire country.”
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the BNP, commenced a large-scale rally at Shahbagh as thousands of leaders and activisits gathered for the event.
The event, part of a month-long nationwide programme, commemorates the anniversary of the July–August 2024 mass uprising that led to the ousting of the Awami League government after 16 years in power.
BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman joined the rally virtually from London as the chief guest. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was present as a special guest, while the party's Student Affairs Secretary Rakibul Islam Bakul delivered the keynote speech.
The rally was presided over by Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and moderated by General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.
Although the rally was scheduled to begin at 2:30pm, it officially commenced at 3:16pm with a recitation from the Quran, followed by the national anthem. Chhatra Dal had previously instructed its activists from across the country to gather in the capital for the event.
From Sunday morning, members from different units began arriving at Shahbagh. A stage was erected at the Shahbagh intersection, and crowds spread along the roads leading to TSC, Matsya Bhaban, and Katabon, causing a complete halt in traffic in the area.
Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir described the rally as "historic and unprecedented," claiming it would be the largest student gathering ever held at Shahbagh.
He said the rally holds deep symbolic importance, as it marks the moment when, according to him, young people risked their lives to bring down what he called the "killer regime of Sheikh Hasina."
Nasir said the event would be joined by hundreds of thousands of Chhatra Dal activists, along with large numbers of general students from across the country.
He added that Chhatra Dal has played a pivotal role in shaping a new, positive course for democratic politics following the uprising.
Despite light rain in the afternoon, Chhatra Dal activists continued arriving at the rally site, chanting slogans and marching in small processions. The Shahbagh area and its surroundings became vibrant with slogans calling for the restoration of democracy. A large banner beside the main stage displayed photos of BNP activists who were killed during the July-August uprisings and other political movements under what the organizers described as authoritarian regimes.
To reduce public inconvenience and maintain discipline, Chhatra Dal issued several internal guidelines, including instructions on conduct, traffic cooperation, and cleanliness.
