Staff Reporter:
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said on Tuesday that it is the duty of all to build a new Bangladesh, and that the valuable votes of the citizens will determine the nation’s future.
“Therefore, voting should not be seen only as a formal act of stamping a paper. Rather, it is your active participation in nation-building, the exercise of your democratic right, and a direct contribution to advancing the country,” the chief adviser said in his 18-minute speech to the nation.
On the occasion of the Great Victory Day, Yunus addressed the nation this evening. State-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV), BTV News, and Bangladesh Betar simultaneously broadcast the speech.
“The country’s ownership is in your hands, and your vote is the mark of that ownership,” he said.
The parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter mark a historic moment in determining the future course of Bangladesh, Yunus said.
“The kind of state we aspire to will depend on the outcome of the referendum, which will determine the character, structure, and trajectory of a new Bangladesh.”
He said, “We want this election to be truly festive, participatory, peaceful, and above all, fair…We are committed to taking necessary measures to ensure a credible election.”
The 13th parliamentary election and the referendum will be held on the same day, 12 February next year.
