BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has characterised the upcoming 12 February election as a pivotal moment to rebuild Bangladesh, rather than a mere polling event.
Addressing a massive public rally at the Birampur Government College ground on Saturday afternoon, the BNP leader stated that the people of Bangladesh have finally regained the opportunity to exercise their political rights after a long 17-year struggle.
He urged the public to cast their votes for the “Sheaf of Paddy” to establish the rights of the oppressed and deprived segments of society.
At the start of his address, Tarique shared personal reflections regarding his maternal grandfather’s house in Birampur and paid a solemn tribute to the martyrs of the July mass uprising.
He noted that family members of the July warriors, whose loved ones sacrificed their lives to secure the rights of the nation, were present on the stage alongside him.
Economic, agricultural vision for the North
Outlining his development strategy for the northern region, the BNP Chairman promised to establish cold storage facilities for Dinajpur’s famous litchis and mangoes, complemented by processing factories designed for the export market.
He further pledged to bring the district’s rice to the global stage and vowed to relaunch the Teesta Barrage master plan to resolve the region’s persistent water crisis.
For the people, Tarique detailed a series of social welfare programmes a BNP government would initiate, including the provision of “Family Cards” to every housewife and working woman to ensure they receive monthly financial assistance.
Farmers are to be supported through “Agriculture Cards” which will facilitate the direct supply of seeds, fertiliser, and pesticides. Additionally, the government intends to assume the liability for agricultural loans up to Tk10,000 and micro-loans taken from NGOs by marginal and small-scale farmers.
Education, healthcare, and national unity
In the education sector, he announced that the policy of free education for girls would be maintained up to the higher secondary level, while teachers would be provided with computers and vocational training institutes would be established for the youth.
For healthcare, the BNP leader plans to recruit 100,000 “Health Carer” to serve villages throughout the country. He also proposed the introduction of a monthly honorarium for Imams, Muazzins, and religious leaders of all faiths.
Tarique emphasised that a citizen’s identity should be defined by their merit and qualification rather than their religion or caste, calling for total unity among Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and indigenous communities.
Recalling former prime minister Khaleda Zia, he remarked that Bangladesh remains her “first and last address” and concluded his speech with the slogan “Work, Build the Country, Bangladesh First.”
Following the conclusion of the rally, the BNP chairman introduced the party’s candidates for the various constituencies of Dinajpur district to the gathered audience.
