Sylhet, Broadcasting News Corporation: Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said that the referendum is meant to hand over the ownership of the country to the people. The upcoming referendum and the 13th national parliamentary election are crucial for changing the nation’s destiny. To realize the aspirations of the July Mass Uprising and achieve sustainable change in the country, it is the moral duty of all conscious citizens to participate in the referendum.

The advisor made these remarks on Saturday (January 3, 2026) while addressing the residents of Burhannagar village in Sylhet Sadar at a courtyard meeting organized by the Sylhet District Information Office to encourage voters and raise public awareness on the occasion of the referendum and the 13th national parliamentary election. The Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was present as a special guest at the event.
The advisor said that since independence, the state has been run according to the words of those in power. Now, there is an opportunity for the people to understand their ownership of the state. There is no alternative to participating in the referendum to establish one’s constitutional fundamental rights. He said that development is not just about building roads, bridges, or culverts. True development is allowing people to live in peace and granting them the right to express their opinions.

The advisor further mentioned that there are 11 questions in the referendum. Each question reflects what you want and the voice of your heart. The reform proposals, formulated by impartial and qualified people of the country, aim to ensure your rights. Therefore, participating in the referendum and voting for truth and justice is a moral responsibility for everyone. If we do not want a monster of absolute power to be created in this country, active participation of the people in the referendum is essential. He called on everyone to seize this opportunity for change to take the country forward.
In his speech as a special guest, the Information Secretary said, ‘We do not want to go back to the past. We all want to run the country together. There will be no more opportunity to keep power suppressed for a long time. Now is the perfect time to understand and take the power of the people.’ He urged people to become aware themselves and also make their families and society aware. At the same time, he called on everyone present to participate in the referendum to change their fate.

The courtyard meeting was chaired by Director General of the Department of Mass Communication, Md. Abdul Jalil. Special guest speeches were delivered by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Md. Altaf Ul Alam, Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Reza-un-Nabi, and Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam. Officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and its subordinate departments/agencies, officials from various government and non-government offices, and media personnel were present at the event.