Industries and Rural Development Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan on Wednesday urged citizens to vote ‘Yes’ to safeguard Bangladesh from decline, saying the country would never return to its previous state.

The adviser said, “By voting ‘Yes’, we must stop Bangladesh’s downfall. The people of Bangladesh will never bow to any aggressive force again. They will stand tall and live with dignity.”

He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at an exchange meeting aimed at promoting the referendum and motivating voters at Srinagar Upazila Parishad auditorium in Munshiganj.

Adilur Rahman said Bangladesh’s students, youths and young women would grow up freely and pursue education independently. “If you want a future where national security is determined by the people themselves, then you must vote ‘Yes’,” he said.

He added that the campaign was also meant to remind people of past incidents, including the BDR killings, the Shapla Chattar crackdown, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

“Our students and youths once came out onto the streets like the birds of Ababil and brought down a fascist and oppressive government,” the adviser said.

Calling for change, the adviser said that if the people of Bangladesh truly want transformation, they must embrace the red-and-green national flag and vote “Yes” on February 12, invoking the name of Almighty Allah. “I am a son of this area. Let the whole country see, through Srinagar’s referendum, how its people cast their votes,” he added.

The meeting was presided over by Srinagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Mohin Uddin and conducted by Assistant Commissioner Golam Rabbani Sohel.

Among others, Local Government Division Secretary Md Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, Munshiganj District Council Executive Officer Nazma Nahar, Additional Superintendent of Police (Srinagar Circle) Anisur Rahman, teacher representative Ferdousi Sultana, imam representative Maulana Shahadat and NGO representative Kripa Mondol also spoke at the event.