The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party said on Tuesday that the government’s only hope for survival was stealing votes in the upcoming election, as it found none on its side at home or abroad.

‘So keep your eyes and ears open. List the names of those involved in the vote-stealing project,’ said BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Amir Khasru made the comment while addressing a brief rally at Rajbari crossing in Faridpur city on the occasion of the BNP’s divisional road march demanding the resignation of the ruling Awami League government.

He said that everyone wanted to know how long this government would be in power, and everyone was looking forward to when this government would go.

‘All the countries of the world and all the democratic organisations have also taken decisions. No one is with this government, at home or abroad. Therefore, the project of vote-stealing is Sheikh Hasina’s only hope,’ he said.

Mentioning that the government has already started trembling thanks to the United States visa restrictions on Bangladeshis, undermining the process of a free and fair election, Khasru said that the next sanctions on this government would be given by the Bangladeshi people and would be much tougher.

Khasru referred to the European Union’s recent decision not to send an election observation mission to Bangladesh, saying it underlined that there was no environment for an election in Bangladesh.

Thousands of BNP leaders and activists joined the road march, defying heavy rain. Processions arrived from various parts of Faridpur, Rajbari, and Shariatpur districts and quickly occupied the Rajbari crossing, leaving the place bustling with BNP supporters.

The road march started at 11:00am at the Goalanda crossing, and it reached the Rajbari crossing around 2:00pm.

On the way to the 130-kilometre road march from Faridpur to Shariatpur, several rallies were held at various places.

Under the coordination of party organising secretary Shama Obaid, BNP standing committee member Selima Rahman and BNP chairperson’s adviser Zainul Abdin Farroque addressed the rally, among others.