Khaleda urges voters to cast votes defying threats, says Rizvi

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Saturday called upon the voters to go to the polling centres and exercise their voting right defying all kinds of threat and fear.

"Each vote you cast will ensure people's liberty and establishment of democratic Bangladesh," BNP senior joint-secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said claiming that the message is from imprisoned party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

At a press briefing held in the party's Nayapaltan central office, Rizvi said BNP chairperson requested the voters to stand in queues at respective polling stations after the Fazr prayer.

"Khaleda Zia also instructed the party's leaders, activists and supporters to guard voting centres by turn from this afternoon (Saturday) because that is how people can protect their voting rights," he said.

Reading the written statement, he also urged the voters not to leave polling centres without having the election results of the 11th national parliamentary polls.

The BNP leader said, "The party chief said opportunity will come tomorrow (Sunday) to get freedom from the authoritarian regime, so cast your vote ignoring all threat and fear."

Mr Rizvi said Khaleda Zia instructed BNP polling agents not to sign any papers before knowing who got what number of votes after the ending of vote counting.

The polling agents should examine the ballot boxes before voting starts, the party people should also stay adjacent to the polling centres as they are not only voters but also 'watchful guards' of polling stations, he added.

The BNP spokesperson said voters need to go to the voting centres ignoring all adversity because people have already started resisting the undemocratic forces.

He said the Awami League 'cadres' have still been carrying out showdowns with motorbikes despite ban on electioneering.

"The government has been implementing the blueprint including the plan to seal the ballots in favour of boat symbol," he added.

Besides, Mr Rizvi mentioned that since the announcement of polls schedule on November 8, around 11,506 opposition leaders, activists and supporters were detained by law enforcement units while 'false' cases stood at 957.

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