Bangladesh Nationalist Occasion chairman Tarique Rahman gestures to his supporters in the course of the closing day of an election marketing campaign rally forward of the nationwide election, at Jatrabari in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on February 9, 2026.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
Hours earlier than the conclusion of marketing campaign for the thirteenth nationwide election, leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Occasion (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) delivered nationally telecast speeches and claimed the widespread legacies of the Liberation Battle of 1971 and the anti-Hasina rebellion of July 2024, and pledged to set Bangladesh on monitor for financial growth.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman mentioned the ruling elite of Bangladesh had turned towards folks after earlier elections and urged voters to help his social gathering this time. In an in depth speech targeted on growth agenda, BNP chairman Tarique Rahman sought forgiveness for any errors that his social gathering may need dedicated throughout its previous governance stints.
Mr. Rahman paid tributes to the sacrifices of 1971 and the anti-Hasina wrestle of 2024. The point out of 1971 in Mr. Rahman’s speech has drawn consideration because the group is thought for being supportive of Pakistan in the course of the Liberation Battle of 1971. Chatting with The Hindu, a spokesperson of Jamaat for the worldwide media clarified the social gathering’s present place on the struggle of 1971 and mentioned that Jamaat needs to “personal” each the “spirits of 1971 and 2024”.
“The principle subject of 2024 was discrimination by a authorities towards our folks and the principle drawback of 1971 was additionally discrimination by Pakistan towards the folks of Bangladesh. That’s the reason we need to personal each the legacies,” mentioned Mohammed Fakhrul Islam, spokesperson for worldwide media and member of the Central Election Committee of Jamaat.
Mr. Islam added that the social gathering needs to convey that it desires to have interaction all sides and switch a brand new web page in nationwide politics. The legacy of 1971 had been some extent of competition between JeI and the BNP with the latter reminding Jamaat that its cadre had participated in killings that have been orchestrated by the Pakistani navy. Tarique Rahman had in December 2025 reminded that JeI had opposed the creation of Bangladesh.
In his nationally telecast speech on Monday (February 9, 2026), Tarique Rahman additionally referred to the BNP’s founder Gen. Ziaur Rahman’s function within the struggle of 1971, in addition to his function in dealing with Bangladesh after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and different nationwide leaders in 1975, and highlighted his social gathering’s function in bringing down the navy rule of Hossein Mohammed Ershad in 1990 and the anti-Sheikh Hasina rebellion in July-August 2024.
Countering the commonly orthodox angle of JeI on gender points, the social gathering chief promised that ladies might be in main positions if his social gathering is elected to energy. Nonetheless, Tarique Rahman made a number of detailed presentation that might be useful for the ladies of Bangladesh. Within the speech, the BNP chief mentioned his social gathering will appoint 1 lakh healthcare professionals and that out of the full determine of these appointments, at the least 40% might be ladies.
He additionally reiterated his pledge to make Bangladesh protected for all residents together with its ladies. He highlighted initiatives that will profit college students, farmers and girls and promised that if elected, his social gathering will enact laws to cope with cyber bullying and violence that concentrate on ladies. “Along with your help, the BNP had shouldered the accountability of governance greater than as soon as prior to now. We would have dedicated errors unwillingly throughout that point. For that I specific my honest regrets to the folks of my nation,” mentioned Tarique Rahman.
Revealed – February 09, 2026 09:57 pm IST