Jatiya Nagorik Party leader Hasnat Abdullah warned on Friday that “footsteps of fascism” could be felt once again amid rumors of forceful occupation of polling centres on 12 February.

Speaking at an election campaign rally at a school at Chiora union of Chauddagram upazila in Cumilla district, Hasnat urged voters to gather the courage to cast their ballots despite warnings that polling centres might be targeted by “miscreants.”

Hasnat, the candidate of 10-party alliance from Cumilla-4 constituency, cautioned potential troublemakers against attempting to seize ballot boxes, saying, “After the elections, with Allah’s help, the 10-party alliance will form government.”

Reflecting on the 17 years leading up to August 2024, he said Bangladesh had effectively become an open prison where dissenters were frequently abducted or extrajudicially killed.

“But after the July-August 2024 uprising, such practices will never recur under the 10-party alliance government,” he added.

Looking ahead, Hasnat promised that the new Bangladesh under the alliance would guarantee freedom of expression and equality for all citizens. “No one will be defined by religion, region or ethnicity. All will simply be Bangladeshis,” he said.