BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmad said the party’s proposed Family Card programme is not fraudulent, insisting that such initiatives are feasible if a government has the capacity to implement them effectively.
Addressing a public meeting, he said the programme, announced ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, aims to improve living standards and is being misrepresented by those who lack development plans of their own.
He made the remarks on Thursday night at a public meeting at Mognama High School ground, organised jointly by the Mognama and Ujantia Union units of BNP.
Referring to the salt sector, Salahuddin alleged that prices had collapsed after what he described as an inexperienced decision by the government to consider salt imports.
Although imports were later halted, he said salt farmers are now receiving less than Tk10 per kg, calling it an example of deep inequality. He recalled that salt prices were fixed at cabinet level during the BNP government in 2001 and said a BNP administration would ensure fair prices for salt and other agricultural products.
On women’s employment, he said proposals to reduce working hours for women would create obstacles to their participation in the workforce, adding that derogatory remarks about women amount to an insult to the nation’s mothers. He highlighted the BNP’s role in introducing free education for women to support their advancement.
Addressing the Liberation War narrative, he said those who did not believe in independence are now raising allegations of historical distortion to generate controversy, urging political rivals to present development plans instead of engaging in propaganda.
The meeting also featured speeches by local leaders, including Upazila BNP President M Bahadur Shah, General Secretary Iqbal Hossain, former Upazila Parishad Chairman Shafaet Aziz Raju, District Olama Dal President Ali Hasan Chowdhury, Upazila BNP Organising Secretary Z M Muslem Uddin, Mohila Dal President Sabina Yasmin Jinu, and union BNP presidents Faisal Chowdhury and Rezaul Karim Mintu.
