Rajshahi University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Saleh Hasan Nakib announced that he will vote 'Yes' in the upcoming national referendum, describing it as a moral duty and a repayment of a 'blood debt' to those who sacrificed their lives during the July revolution. He made the remarks on February 2, 2026, while presiding over a discussion meeting on referendum awareness at the university’s Senate Building.

The Vice-Chancellor said that citizens had been deprived of voting rights for the past 16 years and that the referendum represents a turning point for the nation. He emphasized that the greatest change begins in people’s minds and warned against the return of unrestrained power practices. Referring to tensions surrounding the vote scheduled for the 12th, he said some groups want to restore the old system, but such efforts will fail because the fear that once gripped young people and ordinary citizens has disappeared.

He added that voting 'Yes' is not merely an expression of opinion but a tribute to the sacrifices of the youth and a symbol of national transformation.