People's day will begin on February 13 if paddy sheaf wins: Tarique

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed a large election rally at the historic Haji Mohammad Mohsin Government High School ground in Rajshahi on Thursday.

He urged voters to ensure victory for the party's electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy, in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for February 12.

Earlier in the day, Tarique Rahman paid tribute at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Makhdum (R.), before taking the stage amid enthusiastic crowds from Rajshahi and surrounding districts.

In his speech, he declared, "If the sheaf of paddy wins on February 12, the people's day will begin from February 13." 

He announced that, upon victory, agricultural loans up to Tk 10,000 for farmers would be waived, marking a new era of relief and progress for the farming community.

Tarique Rahman cautioned the public about potential irregularities, referencing past incidents like "night-time voting" and "dummy" practices. 

He alleged that another group is conspiring and stressed the need for vigilance on polling day. 

"The people must stay alert on the 12th. If anything undesirable occurs, it will be addressed under the law. With public vigilance, February 13 will become the people's day, and work for the people will start immediately," he said.

Highlighting development pledges for the region, he criticised the stalled IT park in Rajshahi and the lack of water in the Padma River despite its proximity. If BNP comes to power, he promised: canals would be excavated, the Padma River dredged, and a Padma Barrage constructed to boost agricultural production and improve farmers' livelihoods.

He also committed to building cold storage facilities for the region's famous mango orchards to reduce post-harvest losses and support farmers. 

Additionally, Tarique Rahman vowed to activate the IT park to generate employment, establish vocational training institutes to skill the youth for overseas jobs, and ensure family cards are provided to every mother regardless of political affiliation to support household welfare.

On healthcare, he emphasised the need for specialised hospitals in the country so that people no longer have to travel abroad for advanced treatment, saving national resources.

During the rally, Tarique Rahman symbolically handed over rice grains, representing the sheaf of paddy, to party candidates, instructing them: "You will guard these until the 12th. From the 13th, they will guard you."

The rally reflected strong grassroots enthusiasm, with supporters carrying sheaf of paddy symbols and chanting slogans as Tarique Rahman kickstarted his three-day northern campaign tour, which continues with events in Naogaon and Bogura later in the day.