Dhaka, Aug. 3 -- In Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's Shahbagh rally, Tarique Rahman has urged nearly 40 million new voters to support the BNP in the upcoming general election, claiming they were denied their voting rights by what he called a "fascist regime".

Addressing the massive rally virtually from London on Sunday, the BNP acting chairman said the first-time voters' right to vote over the past one and a half decades was "taken away" and now is the chance to "reclaim it".

He urged Chhatra Dal activists to seek votes from first-time voters in favour of the BNP's traditional election symbol, the paddy sheaf.

"Let your first vote go to the paddy sheaf," he said. "Say it with me -- this is my call to you."

Organised to mark the first annive...