Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday urged citizens to exercise their voting rights freely and responsibly by electing honest and capable candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12, 2026.
“You are the true owners of the country. It is you who will decide who governs Bangladesh on your behalf for the next five years. Vote for the candidate you prefer. Choose integrity and competence. Cast your vote with awareness,” he said.
The Chief Adviser delivered the message through a video address at the inauguration of ten voting vehicles, known as the Super Caravan, launched to carry out a nationwide awareness campaign ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter.
Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed, and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam formally inaugurated the vehicles by cutting the ribbon at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Professor Yunus said the caravans will travel to all 64 districts and 300 upazilas, reaching households across the country to disseminate information about the election and referendum, promote awareness of voting rights, and convey the values of democracy.
Emphasising the government’s commitment to ensuring a fear-free and obstructionless election, he said the authorities are determined to create an environment where the people’s will can be expressed freely and without intimidation.
He noted that the country is at a critical juncture with both a parliamentary election and a referendum ahead, and with this objective in mind, the Super Caravan initiative has begun its nationwide journey.
“Voting rights are not granted by anyone’s generosity; they are guaranteed by the Constitution. By exercising this right, we determine the direction of our future,” the Chief Adviser said in his address to the nation.
He stressed that conducting a free, fair, and inclusive election is not solely the responsibility of the government, but a collective duty of all citizens.
Describing the Super Caravan as more than just a procession of vehicles, Professor Yunus called it a symbol of democratic enthusiasm and civic engagement.
Urging collective participation, he said, “Let us together make this democratic journey a success. Let us vote-for ourselves, for the nation, for future generations, and for a better world.”
The convoy, he added, will highlight the power of a single vote and remind citizens that democracy grows stronger through active participation, not indifference.
The Chief Adviser made a special appeal to young voters, women, and first-time voters, encouraging them to come forward, seek information, ask questions, and cast their ballots.
“Your choices will shape the future of Bangladesh-a new Bangladesh,” he said.
Professor Yunus also reminded voters that they will be casting a second vote in the form of a referendum on the July National Charter.
“This charter was prepared through months of dialogue with all political parties over a nine-month period. If the people endorse it, I firmly believe it will guide the country safely forward for many years,” he said.
“If you support the charter, you should vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum,” he added.
