“BNP Used All Its Strength Against Me,” Says Rumeen Farhana

Speaking to journalists on Friday (February 13) at her residence in Shahbazpur, Sarail, she said she had to confront not only her constituency rival but also organized resistance from within the party structure. “It was treated as though an individual’s popularity could not surpass that of the party. Defeating me became a priority,” she remarked.

Farhana emphasized that her campaign was not short-term. “My preparation did not begin 22 or 25 days ago. Since August 5, I have spent several days each week in the constituency. This victory belongs to my voters,” she said. She also expressed gratitude even toward critics, suggesting that public sentiment was ultimately reflected through the ballot.

Expressing frustration over BNP’s recent activities, she stated that while she had been part of movements demanding voting rights and fair elections, she could not align herself with what she described as questionable practices over the past 18 months. “My political path is guided by my principles,” she added.

In the February 12 parliamentary election, Farhana contested as an independent candidate with the ‘Duck’ symbol and unofficially secured 118,547 votes. Her nearest rival, BNP-backed candidate Maulana Junaid Al Habib, received 80,434 votes with the ‘Date Palm Tree’ symbol. She was expelled from the BNP after defying the party’s decision to run independently.