By Correspondent, Dhaka, Bangladesh
As Bangladesh prepares for its upcoming national parliamentary election, leading opposition figures have issued strong messages on electoral vigilance and anti-corruption reforms, underscoring the growing intensity of the campaign season.
Speaking virtually on Monday at a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) rally in Hatiya, Noakhali, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman urged citizens to remain at polling stations to ensure transparency in the voting process. He stressed that voters should not leave immediately after casting their ballots but should stay to verify that votes are properly counted.
Rahman alleged that there were ongoing conspiracies aimed at obstructing the 13th National Parliamentary Election and called on party leaders, activists, and supporters to remain alert. He recalled a period when, according to him, people’s voting rights and freedom of expression were taken away, adding that those responsible had since left the country. He warned that similar attempts to undermine the electoral process were resurfacing and appealed for vigilance on election day, scheduled for February 12.
Later the same day, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman addressed an election rally at the Wazir Ali High School field in Jhenaidah district, where he vowed strict action against corruption if his party comes to power. He said Jamaat-e-Islami aims to transform the country within five years and build a corruption-free Bangladesh.
Addressing unemployed youths, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said his party’s focus would be on job creation rather than unemployment allowances. He declared a “war against corruption,” stating that 11 political parties would collectively stand against corrupt practices.
He also issued a warning to extortionists, condemning the practice of demanding money from citizens who struggle to earn their livelihoods. Emphasising unity, he said the party’s goal was to build a united, not divided, Bangladesh, and expressed hope for what he described as another political revolution on February 12, 2026.