Thakurgaon, Feb. 7 -- BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday said the upcoming national election is not merely about electing public representatives but about restoring people's rights and rebuilding Bangladesh.

"The February-12 election would be an election to rebuild the country as people had been deprived not only of political rights and freedom of expression but had also fallen behind economically over the past decade," he said while addressing a massive rally at Thakurgaon Government Boys' High School ground.

Pointing towards some people seated beside the stage, Tarique said their relatives had fallen to enforced disappearances and killings while many others had endured repression and torture over the past decade in their struggle...