Ukhiya, August 5 (V7N) – Alhaj Shahjahan Chowdhury, former Member of Parliament for Ukhiya -Teknaf and President of the Ukhiya -Teknaf district BNP, addressed a large public rally organized by the Ukhiya Upazila BNP on Tuesday afternoon, promising to establish a corridor in Ukhiya and emphasizing the party’s development achievements during its tenure. He also called for immediate national elections, stressing that BNP has been demanding the vote through protests on the streets for the past 16 years.

The rally began at Jatimora area and concluded at South Station, marking the first BNP public procession in Ukhiya in 17 years. The meeting at Ukhiya Mosque Market was chaired by Ukhiya Upazila BNP convener and former chairman Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury. Other prominent participants included Ukhiya Upazila BNP Secretary Sultan Mahmud, BNP leader M.A. Moktar, Ukhiya Upazila Workers’ Welfare Federation President Abdul Malek Manik, and Ukhiya Upazila Farmers’ Secretary Sadman Jami Chowdhury.

Earlier the same day, Teknaf Upazila BNP and its affiliated bodies organized a victory rally and meeting at the Teknaf Bus Station. Shahjahan Chowdhury was present as the chief guest. The event was presided over by Teknaf Upazila BNP President Advocate Hasan Siddique and conducted by General Secretary Mohammad Shahadat Hossain and Teknaf Municipal BNP General Secretary Aktar Hossain Bablu.

In his speech, Shahjahan Chowdhury described BNP as the party of the masses, built on the support of the people of Bangladesh. He accused the current government, led by Prime Minister Hasina, of stripping citizens of their voting rights and suppressing democracy through fascist rule. He praised the July uprising, saying it forced Hasina to flee and called for an elected government to lead the country.

Shahjahan warned that BNP would not hesitate to intensify movements if timely elections were not held, urging the government to announce elections immediately.

He further asserted that BNP was responsible for the development of Teknaf, citing improvements in electricity, telecommunications, roads, educational institutions, and the establishment of the port for legal trade during BNP’s administration. He criticized the current government for shutting down the port and turning Teknaf into a "killing field" under the influence of police official Pradip, calling the recent change of government a liberation from Hasina’s regime.

Highlighting the need for national unity, Shahjahan urged the people of Teknaf to remain vigilant, rejecting foreign influence, and promising BNP’s commitment to safeguarding national interests and establishing law and order to ensure citizens’ safety.

The victory meeting featured speeches from various BNP leaders, including Teknaf Municipal BNP President Abdur Razzak Member, Teknaf Upazila BNP Organizing Secretary Selimul Mustafa, Senior Joint Secretary Mohammad Ali Chairman, and presidents and conveners from several local branches.

From early morning, BNP activists and leaders from different wards, unions, and units joined the rally and meeting, carrying banners, posters, and festoons, chanting slogans. The event concluded with a victory procession led by Shahjahan Chowdhury, which circled the main roads of Teknaf municipality and ended at the Upazila Shaheed Minar.

The gathering demonstrated BNP’s renewed public mobilization in the region after a long hiatus and emphasized the party’s determination to restore democratic processes through elections.

END/SIU/SMA/