Senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Salahuddin Ahmed has expressed confidence that his party is on course for a decisive victory in the upcoming national parliamentary election, scheduled for 12 February, citing strong public backing and renewed democratic momentum.
Speaking at a series of election rallies in Chakaria upazila on Wednesday morning, Salahuddin Ahmed said the electorate was poised to reclaim its democratic rights after years of political repression. Addressing supporters at the BMS High School ground and nearby areas, he said the forthcoming vote would enable citizens to freely choose their representatives without fear or coercion.
He told the crowd that the BNP envisages a Bangladesh where enforced disappearances and political intimidation would be consigned to the past, and where families would no longer endure the trauma of losing loved ones to political violence. According to him, the February election represents an opportunity to restore dignity, accountability and public ownership of the state.
Salahuddin Ahmed said voters would ultimately decide the country’s future based on competing political visions, adding that democracy thrives when all parties present clear programmes and allow the public to judge them freely. He stressed that the BNP welcomed open political competition and believed voters would support whichever agenda they found most credible.
At the same time, he cautioned voters against political narratives that relied on emotional or religious manipulation rather than concrete policy proposals. He warned that democracy could not be strengthened through misleading promises but only through transparent governance plans and respect for citizens’ rights.
Reflecting on his own political experiences, Salahuddin Ahmed said he had previously faced serious personal risk while advocating for democratic freedoms during a period when public dissent was suppressed and voting rights were curtailed. He said the upcoming election would mark a turning point, allowing people to vote without fear and reclaim their voice in national affairs.
Several local BNP leaders also addressed the gatherings, echoing calls for unity and voter participation ahead of the polls. Party organisers described the rallies as part of a broader campaign to mobilise grassroots support across Cox’s Bazar district and beyond.
The February 12 election is widely seen as a critical test for Bangladesh’s democratic transition, with domestic and international observers closely watching whether the vote is conducted in a free, fair and inclusive manner.
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