Acting Chairman of BNP Tarique Rahman congratulated and thanked fellow citizens for boycotting the January 7 polls.

In a video message from London on Tuesday morning, he addressed the countrymen. He said, “I congratulate you sincerely. A chivalrous congratulation. Because, you rejected the ‘dummy election’ of 7 January spontaneously. You rejected the framed and setup election of the fascist government completely. You continued your non-cooperation movement against the fascist government successfully. You observed the hartal successfully throughout the country on 7 January. Once again, I congratulate you on behalf of the 63 political parties including BNP who are on the side of democracy.”

The Acting Chairman of BNP stated, "The democratic people do not care whether the January 7 election is peaceful or fraudulent. Because there was no real election on January 7. Rather, it was on January 7, the National Council of one-party Bakshal, cursed in the name of national elections, embezzled 30 billion takas from the state. You have seen in the national media and social media, Awami League itself is now accusing each other of vote robbery, rigging and unprecedented vandalism. Those of Awami Leagues who are not declared MPs are now exposing the mask of Hasina's terror. BNP and 62 pro-democracy parties boycotted the 'dummy elections'. Still, Hasina had to resort to vote robbery. The administration had to be implicated in vote rigging. Even children have been used to rigging votes. A look at political history proves it, vote rigging seems to have become a hereditary tradition of Sheikh Hasina."

He referred to the absence of voters in specific centres, stating, "Voting is like a festival in any elections in Bangladesh. But this time in the ‘dummy elections’ not a single vote was cast in total of 21 centres including 19 centres of a constituency in Khagrachari. Not a single vote was cast in any centre is an unprecedented event in the electoral history of Bangladesh. It proves that the majority of the people of the country have finally rejected fascist Hasina, even though the vote robber Hasina stole the people's votes and seized the power of the state at gunpoint. In reality, the so-called election on January 7 was a clear verdict in favour of the pro-democracy people's movement and against fascist Hasina."

Cautioning the international community who believe in democratic values, he stated, “By rejecting the ‘dummy elections’, the democracy aspirant people have sent a message to the democratic world as well apart from fascist Hasina and here mafia gang. The message is the democracy aspirant Bangladesh people do not want a North Korea style election; they do not want a one-party democracy like North Korea. The way fascist Hasina is establishing Bangladesh as the ‘second North Korea’’ if this cannot be stopped strongly for this not only the people of Bangladesh but also the democratic world may have to pay dearly.”

Tarique Rahman emphasised on the continuity of the movement against the government. He noted, “The country cannot run with a corrupt 'dummy government'. Get ready for another 'real election' soon, ousting vote-robber Hasina out of state power. Until the final victory is achieved, the ongoing movement to restore democracy, human rights and disenfranchisement of billions of people in the country will continue. Whichever party or opinion you belong to, strengthen our hand to accelerate our movement. Join us in the street movement. Extend your hand of support to the ongoing movement of 63 political parties including BNP with all your capacity and ability. Because, our ongoing movement is to establish the voting rights of you and every citizen."

He expressed remorse, saying, "I pray to Allah for the forgiveness of those who has self-sacrificed, died and injured in the long struggle to restore humanity and voting rights in the country. Condolences and empathy to their bereaved families. Those who are victim of fascist government's jails, oppression and torture, for your brave struggle and sacrifice, the fascist government is now completely depopulated even though it has seized the state power at gunpoint. By ensuring the victory of the ongoing movement, your sacrifices for establishing the rights of 180 million people will be rewarded inshallah. The movement continues, will continue until the final victory is achieved."