BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said the party will prioritise youth employment, agricultural growth, infrastructure development and the rehabilitation of slum dwellers if voted to power.
He made the pledges while addressing an election rally at the BRB ground in Bhashantek on Friday.
Tarique said years of movements and struggles had led to the fall of autocracy and that the focus must now shift to rebuilding the country.
Autocratic rule, he said, had weakened key state institutions, which could only be restored through representatives elected by the people.
He said elections held without meaningful public participation had left citizens unable to approach their representatives with grievances, stressing that electing people’s representatives was essential to establishing democracy and ensuring accountability.
Addressing the rally, he said he wanted to hear people’s problems directly and expected future elected representatives to engage with the public, listen to their concerns and work towards solutions.
Outlining BNP’s plans, he said special cards would be introduced for farmers, alongside easy-term loans to boost agricultural production. Training and education programmes would be expanded to build a skilled workforce, enabling young people to find jobs at home, work abroad as skilled labour or establish businesses.
On women’s empowerment, he said BNP would create employment opportunities for women and introduce family cards if it forms the government. He also pledged effective measures to improve the living standards of slum dwellers.
Calling on people to take the pledge—“We will work, we will build the country—Bangladesh first”—Tarique said that whenever the Sheaf of Paddy had been elected by popular vote, people’s lives had improved.
To implement development plans, he said, the symbol must secure a nationwide victory, urging supporters to mobilise family members to vote for it.
Tarique attended the rally with his wife Zubaida Rahman. BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, chairperson’s adviser Abdus Salam, Farhad Halim Donar and Nazimuddin Alam were also present.
Among the organisational leaders attending were Dhaka North BNP Convener Aminul Haque and Member Secretary Mostafa Zaman. At the local level, Bhashantek Thana BNP Convener Kader Mahmud joined the rally, along with leaders of allied organisations, including Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna and Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal General Secretary Sultana Ahmed.
Before beginning his speech, Tarique Rahman spoke with people from different walks of life in Bhashantek—including van pullers, homemakers, slum residents and students—listening to their concerns and assuring them that their problems would be addressed if BNP forms the government.
