Govt launches 'super caravans' to raise awareness about election, referendum

Bangla Press Desk:  The government on Monday launched ten specialised vehicles for conducting awareness campaigns throughout the country in support of the upcoming national elections, and July Charter implementation referendum, which would be held simultaneously on 12 February.

Information Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam jointly inaugurated the “Super Caravans” at the National Parliament’s South Plaza.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus delivered a video message at the inauguration event.

The ten specialised cars would travel across 300 upazilas in all the 64 districts of the country to encourage people to vote in the national elections, and pick “yes” in the July Charter Implementation referendum, the Nobel Laureate said.

The cars would raise voting awareness and spread the message of democracy, he added.

The chief adviser specifically called on young voters, women voters and newly registered voters to cast their ballots in both the elections.

He called on all voters to first evaluate the honesty and capabilities of a candidate, prepare a shortlist, and then pick the person of their choice.

Picking the right candidate would help decide the country’s future in the next five years, said Prof Yunus.

Afterwards on the same date, people must also vote in the referendum. The chief adviser said he strongly believes a “yes” vote in the referendum would secure the country for many years to come.

The voters’ support would endorse the July Charter, which is a collection of state reform measures agreed to by all the active political parties during nine months of government-backed talks.

BP/SP