BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has expressed confidence that the upcoming national election, scheduled for February, will earn global recognition and praise.

He said the election would mark “the beginning of change” and emphasised that the people themselves would guard their votes, leaving no need for external intervention.

He made these remarks on Saturday while addressing a women’s rally held at the field of Shaheed Hossain Chowdhury High School in Islamnagar, located in Kayerbil Union of Chakaria upazila in Cox’s Bazar.

Salahuddin Ahmed told the gathering that the Election Commission is expected to announce the election schedule within the current week.

“An historic election will be held in Bangladesh in the first week of February,” he added.

Speaking about the past decade and a half, he said the people of the country had long been deprived of voting rights and democratic freedoms under what he described as the Awami League government’s “fascist” rule.

Although a nominal constitutional system appeared to be in place, Sheikh Hasina had, in practice, established a one-party governing structure, he alleged.

Salahuddin further claimed that Sheikh Hasina never demonstrated genuine trust, commitment or responsibility toward the people of Bangladesh.

According to him, her actions suggested she prioritised the interests of a neighbouring country and remained in power primarily to “plunder national resources” and place the country under external influence.

He added that her departure from the country “in the face of a mass uprising” proved she did not stand with the people of Bangladesh.

Former MP Hasina Ahmed, Cox’s Bazar District BNP General Secretary Shamim Ara Swapna, Chakaria BNP President Enamul Haque, General Secretary M Mobarak Ali and several others were also present at the event.

Earlier in the day, Salahuddin carried out mass campaign in the unions of Fasiakhali, Kakara, Lakshyar Char, and Baraitali in Chakaria, where he addressed several roadside gatherings.