Mahdi Amin, adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, described the premier’s “28 steps in 28 days” as “an unprecedented work drive.”
He highlighted the initiatives in a Facebook post on Tuesday morning.
Mahdi Amin wrote, “Today is 17 March. Exactly one month ago, under the leadership of the honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, elected by the people’s vote, the BNP formed government. In just 28 days, at every moment of governance, he has worked tirelessly to fulfil electoral pledges. These steps are not merely administrative actions; they are a clear reflection of accountability to the people.”
In his post, Mahdi, prime minister’s adviser on education, overseas employment and ICT, emphasised that the government’s measures in its first 28 days have touched every sphere — social protection, economy, administration, education, health, security, and national values.
Here is the full list of Tarique Rahman’s “28 steps in 28 days” as written in Mahdi Amin’s Facebook status.
Social protection and humanitarian assistance
1. Family Card programme: A total of 37,567 families have been provided with family cards, each offering monthly support of Tk2,500. Implemented within just 21 days, this stands as an example of the government’s humanitarian priorities.
2. Honorarium for imams, muezzins, and religious service providers: Monthly stipends are now being given to 4,908 mosque imams and muezzins, 990 temple priests, 144 Buddhist monastery heads, and 396 church pastors and clergy.
3. Relief and gifts for Eid: Sarees, three-piece outfits, and prayer scarves have been allocated for the poor and vulnerable in electoral constituencies. All sanitation workers are receiving Eid gifts.
4. Institutional Zakat system: Following discussions with Islamic scholars, an initiative has been launched to establish an institutional zakat system to ensure resources reach the poor and to support welfare activities.
Agriculture and rural economy
5. Farmer Card and loan waiver: Nearly 27,000 farmers are set to receive the long-awaited farmer card, with activities beginning soon. Around 12 lakh small and marginal farmers will have loans waived up to Tk10,000 each, helping them resume cultivation.
6. Nationwide canal excavation programme: 20,000 kilometres of canals and water bodies are being excavated, already underway in 54 districts. This will improve irrigation, reduce waterlogging, and create employment opportunities.
Administrative reform and good governance
7. Weekly office and office hours: The prime minister is working on Saturdays as well; officials are required to be present by 9am.
8. Reduction of VVIP Protocols: The PM’s simple movements have brought unprecedented changes to traffic management, encouraging citizens to follow traffic laws.
9. Limited formalities at airports: Only a senior minister, the chief whip, the cabinet secretary, and the principal secretary to the prime minister will be present.
10. Cancellation of MPs’ special privileges: A historic decision not to accept duty-free cars or government plots, which will reduce state expenditure and restore public trust.
Economy and market stability
11. Market monitoring and energy stability: Measures taken to prevent price hikes during Ramadan and Eid, including spot LNG purchases to keep electricity supply stable despite global energy volatility.
12. Facilitation of foreign investment: The requirement for prior approval from the central bank has been lifted for repatriation of foreign investments up to Tk100 crore.
13. Ensuring workers’ wages and bonuses: All industrial workers have received pending wages and Eid bonuses on time. Tk2,500 crore has been allocated for export-oriented industries, including the garment sector.
14. Revival of closed Industries: Gradual reopening of state-owned factories and industrial enterprises to increase employment opportunities.
15. Boosting local initiatives and employment: Preparation of lists of underutilised economic zones, EPZs, BSCIC areas, hi-tech parks, and industry clusters, with initiatives to foster promising businesses and build ecosystems in collaboration with local universities.
Education and human resource development
16. Abolition of re-admission fees and lottery system: Annual re-admission fees have been abolished. The lottery system has been replaced with modern admission tests or interviews, alongside decisions to improve teachers’ benefits.
17. Support for higher education abroad: Up to Tk10 lakh in state-backed financial assistance through collateral-free bank guarantees for students pursuing higher studies overseas.
18. Recruitment of religious teachers: A total of 9,000 teachers appointed to strengthen moral and religious values.
19. Sports development and Notun Kuri programme: School and college playgrounds opened for children and youth. Initiatives launched under the Notun Kuri programme for culture, sports, and Quran recitation. At the upazila level, recruitment has begun for 18 sports teachers.
Health and public welfare
20. E-Health Card and medical centres: Introduction of e-health cards to expand access to healthcare. Recruitment of 1,00,000 health workers has started, with 80 percent of them being women.
21. Dengue prevention campaign: Weekly nationwide cleanliness drives conducted in coordination with local administration and community groups.
Law and order and security
22. Action against extortion: Intelligence and law enforcement agencies are taking swift measures, with maintaining law and order set as the highest priority.
23. Women’s safety and Pink Bus service: Launch of women-operated Pink Bus services. Initiatives also taken to combat cyberbullying.
National discipline and values
24. Limiting state iftar and saving electricity: Government offices instructed to use only half of fans and air conditioners; state iftar programmes restricted to prevent waste.
25. Eviction of illegal shops: After 20 years, illegal shops at Cox’s Bazar Sugandha Sea Beach have been removed, with coordinated initiatives underway across the country.
26. National Martyred Army Day: 25 February declared and observed as National Martyred Army Day, with emphasis on transparent trials of the Pilkhana massacre.
27. Third Terminal at Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport: High-level meetings and multilateral discussions held to finalise strategies for the rapid launch of the third terminal.
28. Free internet at airports and moving trains: Free Wi-Fi introduced at Hazrat Shahjalal (Dhaka), Shah Amanat (Chattogram), and MAG Osmani (Sylhet) airports, similar to developed countries. Service inaugurated at Saidpur Airport as well.
