Tarique slams ‘ticket to heaven’ pledge

In his maiden election rally yesterday, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman alleged that a certain party is trying to deceive voters, particularly women, with “tickets to heaven” in exchange for votes.

Addressing a huge gathering at the Alia Madrasa field in Sylhet city, he also criticised the party for its stance against the 1971 Liberation War.

Without mentioning Jamaat-e-Islami’s name, he continued, “They are already cheating you. Now think about how they will cheat you after the election…. They are not only deceiving the people; they are making Muslims commit ‘shirk’ [the act of ascribing divinity or worship to others alongside Allah]. Nauzubillah [We seek refuge in Allah]!”

He further warned, “Over the last few days, you have seen in newspapers and on social media how postal ballots sent to different countries, including the Middle East, were robbed .... We must be alert to conspiracies.”

Thousands of party leaders, activists and supporters gathered at the venue, applauding as he called on voters to sup-port the “paddy sheaf” -- the BNP’s electoral symbol -- for national development.

With the upcoming election being the first Tarique is participating in, he attended multiple rallies across seven districts yesterday.

He reached Sylhet city around 8:00pm on Wednesday and visited the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) in Sylhet, and then visited his in-laws’ residence.

Yesterday, a large crowd gathered and greeted him as he and his wife Zubaida Rahman arrived at the Madrasa grounds at 12:25pm in a green and red bus.

Meanwhile, his party leaders and activists, many of whom reached the venue the night before and stayed overnight, joined the rally in droves, donning colourful caps and t-shirts.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke as a special guest, while Sylhet district BNP President Abdul Qaiyum Chowdhury presided over the programme. Candidates from Sylhet and Sunamganj also addressed the rally, pledging to work in unity to ensure the party’s victory.

Taking the stage at 12:28pm, the BNP chief spoke for 23 minutes, addressing a range of issues, including the oppression and torture of his party’s leaders and activists during the Awami League’s 16 years in power, enforced disappearances, the country’s fragile economy, looting, and the need to reform the state structure.

He also outlined future plans, including the introduction of family, farmers’ and health cards; large-scale canal excava-tion, with 20,000 kilometres to be dug nationwide; employment generation; and measures prioritising farmers, women, and environmental protection.

Tarique said that if the party is voted to power, the country would be governed in accordance with the righteousness of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Referring to the enforced disappearance of BNP leader Ilias Ali and the deaths of 13 people in Sylhet during the July up-rising, he said, “Through the sacrifice of these lives, we began the journey to claim our rights, but a vested group has already started conspiring against it, and the conspiracy has not stopped inside the country either.

“On August 5, 2024, the people of Bangladesh proved that if they remain united, they can resist any conspiracy.”

At one point during his speech, he called a person from the crowd onto the stage and asked, “What do you all believe? Who is the owner of the Holy Kaaba? Who is the owner of the world? Who owns the heaven? Who owns the sun and the stars?”

To each question, the man responded with “Allah”.

Tarique then continued, “You all bore witness that the owner of hell is Allah, the owner of heaven is Allah, the owner of the world is Allah, the owner of the Kaaba is Allah. Brother, does anyone else have the power to give away what is owned by Allah? No one does. So, before the election, one party is telling you ‘We’ll give you this, we’ll give you that, we’ll give you a ticket’ … is that not so?

“If they speak of things that are not owned by humans -- isn’t that shirk?”

Tarique further said the country was liberated in 1971 at the cost of millions of lives, and the people know who played what role during the Liberation War.

“We saw who played a role in the martyrdom of hundreds and thousands of our brothers, in destroying the honour of hundreds of thousands of our mothers and sisters. The people of Bangladesh already know them.”

“Brothers and sisters, [we must unite and stand] against such ‘Kufri’ [acts or beliefs considered disbelief in Islam], such thoughtlessness and such lies. We need to stay with our ‘take back Bangladesh!’”

He said the people have freed the country from autocracy and the next task is to establish the people’s rights. “Not just the right to vote or speak, but the right to self-reliance. Our goal is to ensure that every person can feed and clothe themselves, so that everyone can move safely -- that is how we will ‘take back Bangladesh’.”

He added that the BNP does not only want voting rights or freedom of speech, but also aims to make people economi-cally self-reliant.

Tarique spoke at the second rally at Ainpur playground in Moulvibazar’s Sherpur at 3:00pm.

Once again, without naming Jamaat, he reiterated his accusation against a certain party of misleading voters. “They are now going to the homes of innocent mothers and sisters and selling ‘tickets to Jannah’.”

At a rally in Habiganj, he said, “Let me share another update about the conspiracy to engineer the election -- their peo-ple are going door to door, collecting NID and mobile numbers. Have you heard about this?

“They say they will establish the rule of honest people. They are collecting bKash numbers and phone numbers, saying they will send money -- this is their plan.”

Addressing a Brahmanbaria rally at 10:30pm, Tarique urged voters to wake up early, attend Fajr prayers and go to the nearest polling stations. 

He began his address at Kishoreganj’s Bhairab rally around 12:15am today. Urging votes for the BNP, he warned the people to stay vigilant against those who halted the voting process for the past 15 years.

THE PROMISES MADE

In his Moulvibazar speech, the BNP chairman said employment opportunities would increase across the country if his party was voted to power. “Training and language education would be provided to help young people become skilled and secure better jobs.”

He added that in the around 130 tea gardens in the district, the workers, particularly women, are living in difficult condi-tions and earning inadequate wages. “We want to provide family cards to these workers. Through the cards, we will offer either food assistance or cash support so that they can manage their households properly.”

He added that besides tea workers, families of day labourers and farmers would also receive family cards.

Tarique also said farmers, through the “farmers’ card”, would be provided with necessary facilities, while also mention-ing plans to introduce honorariums for imams and muezzins.

He said Moulvibazar stands as clear evidence of official neglect, as the previous government failed to ensure even basic healthcare facilities in the region. “Residents are still forced to travel to Sylhet or Dhaka for treatment, risking time, money and lives.

“Medical colleges and healthcare institutions will be established on a priority basis in neglected areas.”

In his speech in Brahmanbaria, he said his party will prioritise road construction, the development of educational insti-tutions and employment. 

As of the filing of this report at 1:00am, Tarique was scheduled for two more rallies -- one in Narsingdi and another in Narayanganj.

He is scheduled to address a rally at the capital’s Bhasantek BRP field at 6:00pm today, marking the second day of his election campaign.

(Our Sylhet correspondents Dwoha Chowdhury and Mintu Deshwara contributed to this report.)