BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman engaged with young people during his Sylhet visit, listening to their concerns and answering their questions at a youth talk.
The party chief answered their questions, with his wife Zubaida Rahman also present. The talk, titled “The Plan – Youth Policy Talk with Tarique Rahman,” was held at Grand Sylhet Hotel and Resort on Thursday morning. At the event, young people asked about BNP’s plans on health, education, environment, agriculture and other issues.
Responding to a question on unemployment, Tarique urged young people to acquire new skills beyond academic studies, saying that additional skills will make it easier to find work abroad.
On a suggestion to establish specialised hospitals throughout the country to improve healthcare access and save lives, he said that resource constraints make it impossible to build such facilities everywhere. Instead, he emphasised focusing on disease prevention, which would reduce pressure on doctors.
A woman asked whether recipients of the proposed Family Card would merely be beneficiaries or whether it would also empower women, and how it would be funded. Tarique replied that while women may have education, they often cannot utilise it due to resource limitations and social obligations.
He explained that BNP intends to issue Family Cards exclusively to women who head households. “If the government recognises them in this way, their dignity and confidence will increase,” he said.
On funding, he added that under the scheme, some recipients will receive Tk2,000–2,500 in cash per month, while others will get essential food items. He said many ministries currently run scattered projects, which BNP aims to consolidate and supplement with additional resources.
Answering a question on the environment, Tarique stressed the importance of tree planting.
After the discussion, the BNP chief joined a mass rally at Sylhet’s Alia Madrasa ground. He had arrived in Sylhet on Wednesday night at 8pm via a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, accompanied by his delegation.
Following the Alia Madrasa rally, Tarique is scheduled to address gatherings at Sherpur’s Ainpur playground in Moulvibazar, the proposed upazila ground in Shayestaganj (Habiganj), Kuttapara playground in Sarail (Brahmanbaria), Bhairab Stadium in Kishoreganj, a venue near Narsingdi municipality, and Gausia in Rupganj, Araihazar (Narayanganj).
After completing these programmes, the BNP chief will return to his residence in Dhaka’s Gulshan late Thursday night.
