BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has asked the youth to vote for a sheaf of rice. Addressing the youth, he said, "The youth's first vote should be for a sheaf of rice."

Tarique Rahman made these remarks while joining the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal rally in Shahbagh, the capital, as the chief guest from London on Sunday. The rally was organized by Chhatra Dal to mark the anniversary of the mass uprising.

The rally was attended by a large number of people. Chhatra Dal leaders and activists from all over the country arrived at Shahbagh by noon. Traffic was closed from Shahbagh to Matsya Bhaban, TSC's Raju Statue and Katabon intersection. The leaders and activists, tying flags on their heads and holding party banners and festoons in their hands, chanted various slogans along the entire road. The leaders and activists expressed hope that the parliamentary elections will be held by February. The road closures caused severe traffic congestion in the city.

Addressing the leaders and activists, Tarique Rahman said, "I have a call for the students and young generation across the country, including the leaders and activists of the Chhatra Dal - listen carefully to what I want to say. Then spread that call to those who are new voters. Let me tell you what that call is - the first vote of the youth should be for a sheaf of rice."

He said, "Out of the 130 million voters in the country, about 40 million new voters have been added in the last one and a half decades. Even though you are a voter, the fascist clique took away your voting rights. A great opportunity has been created in the upcoming national elections to restore your lost voting rights. We seek the support and cooperation of everyone, including the 30 million disenfranchised voters, in utilizing this opportunity to build a self-reliant Bangladesh and implement the plan adopted by BNP."

The acting chairman of BNP said, Bangladesh is now a mature country. The people in this country no longer want the politics of division and conflict and revenge. The people want a qualitative change in politics from the political parties.

He said that BNP, which is elevated in religious and social values, wants to start a politics of creating humane people in the future. Tarique Rahman said, BNP's future policy is the politics of creating employment and ensuring a safe working environment. BNP's policy is the politics of transforming today's population into public resources. The politics of formulating and implementing a work-oriented education curriculum inspired by humane values.

He said, BNP is taking clear plans to reform the education system and create employment. Along with academic studies, students will get the opportunity to gain practical knowledge about their interests from the school level. If they get real work experience, they will not be a victim of unemployment after completing their education. A team of party experts is working to create a new education curriculum.

Stressing the importance of learning multiple languages, Tarique Rahman said, "We want to build international-standard small and medium industries and make their products reach e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Alibaba, and eBay. We have talked to them. These small and medium industries will be implemented by the youth. The government will support them. This will create employment opportunities for crores of youth."

He said, "Currently, more than one million young people in the country are earning billions of dollars in foreign exchange through freelancing and outsourcing. However, there is a problem with the payment gateway. We have discussed with PayPal, Stripe, Wise. The problem will be resolved quickly if the government gets the opportunity."

Addressing the students of Dhaka University, Tarique Rahman said, "This is an opportunity to establish this campus as a safe land for knowledge and research. It is important to resolve the housing crisis and improve the quality of food. I urge the Chhatra Dal to submit written proposals to the BNP based on the students' opinions. He said that instructions have been given to prepare a report on the problems and possibilities after discussing them with teachers and students at other universities."

At the rally, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "Not just for 36 days, but for 15 and a half years before that, our students, people and workers gave their lives. The goal of this sacrifice is to create a beautiful homeland. Our students want to get jobs after passing, become established and alleviate the suffering of their parents. They want to see new factories and employment in the country. They want to see good people rule the country and give the gift of good governance."

He said, 'Our leader Tarique Rahman has decided to hold elections in February after discussing with his chief advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus in London. The people of the whole country are waiting for that election. Before that, the people of the whole country are waiting for our leader Tarique Rahman to return to the country. Isn't that right? We all want him to come, lead us, show us the way.'
In his speech, Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib said that Chhatra Dal has participated in the July movement and led it. Those who are conspiring to write a fabricated history of the mass uprising will be thrown into the dustbin of history.

BNP Chairperson's Advisor Amanullah Aman, Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Asaduzzaman Ripon, Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Khairul Kabir Khokon, Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel, and others addressed the rally moderated by Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir.