Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday called on voters to remain vigilant to prevent any attempt to foil the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections, alleging that ‘a vested quarter’ was conspiring to disrupt the polls.

‘In the past 16 years, we have seen so called night-time elections, gayebi elections and ami-dami elections. The people of this country could not cast their votes. Those who took away voting rights have gone, but another quarter has started conspiring again from behind the scenes to foil, disrupt the elections,’ he said.

He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at an electoral rally held at the Madrassah Field in Rajshahi city on Tuesday afternoon.

Urging party supporters to spread the message widely, he said, ‘Tell everyone you meet to stay alert on February 12 so that no one can foil the election. If people remain vigilant on that day, then from the 13th the country will belong to the people again.’

Without naming any group, Tarique also referred to recent incidents of violence in different parts of the country, saying the interim government must ensure proper and impartial investigations.

‘If any untoward incident takes place and BNP members are found involved anywhere, we will cooperate fully. A fair investigation and justice must be ensured in accordance with the law,’ he said.

He also stressed communal harmony, saying that BNP believed in peaceful coexistence among people of all faiths.

‘We want peace in this country with Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians living together. In 1971, no one asked who belonged to which religion, and during the mass uprising of August 5, 2024, people did not come to the streets based on religion,’ he said.

Alongside his political remarks, Tarique placed strong emphasis on regional development, particularly water management and agriculture in the drought-prone northwest.

He said the region was facing acute water scarcity in major rivers, canals and irrigation channels, which was affecting farming and livelihoods.

‘Rajshahi is known for the Padma, but there is hardly any water. The canals linked to the river are also drying. This crisis must be addressed,’ he said, pledging that his party would prioritise construction of the Padma Barrage to ensure water retention, irrigation support and ecological balance in Rajshahi, Natore and Chapainawabganj.

Highlighting agriculture as the backbone of the northern economy, he said farmers would be provided with a ‘farmers’ card’ to access seeds, fertiliser, pesticides and bank loans directly. He also pledged that agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000, including interest, would be waived if the BNP formed the government.

Tarique further promised re-excavation of canals and revival of river flows to restore agricultural productivity in the Barind tract, saying the Barind Multipurpose Development Project would be reactivated and strengthened.

Referring to Chapainawabganj’s mango industry, he said that the absence of modern cold storage facilities was causing heavy post-harvest losses.

‘We will establish specialised cold storage to facilitie mango preservation so that farmers get fair prices and exports can increase,’ he said, adding that agro-processing industries would be encouraged in the northern districts to create employment.

Describing Rajshahi as an ‘education city’ with many educated but unemployed youths, he said the existing IT Park would be made fully functional and IT-based employment opportunities expanded.

He also promised to establish vocational training institutes to create skilled workers for both domestic and overseas employment, introduce a family support card for women to help households manage living costs, and set up a specialised hospital in Rajshahi to reduce the need for patients to seek advanced treatment abroad.

Urging voters to support the BNP’s electoral symbol, he said the proposed initiatives could only be implemented through a democratic government accountable to the people.

‘Mega projects alone do not change people’s lives. We need people-centred development — for farmers, workers, women and youth,’ he told the rally.