BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has vowed a sweeping crackdown on corruption and extortion, warning that no offender – including those linked to his own party – will be spared if BNP returns to power, blaming years of political patronage for eroding law and order.
Addressing a large election rally at the Chattogram Polo Ground on Sunday, Tarique said that, during former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s tenure, criminals were never granted immunity based on party affiliation.
“BNP believes in the same principle,” he said, adding that restoring public safety would be the government’s top priority alongside decisive state action against corruption.
Turning his attention to waterlogging – one of the city’s most persistent problems – he said countless lives have been crippled by encroachment and the overall mismanagement of canals, wetlands and drainage systems.
“If BNP forms the government,” he said, “a nationwide programme to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals will be launched.” He also announced plans to plant 500 million trees over the course of the next five years and create new forest areas to protect the environment.
The BNP leader said the city would be developed as Bangladesh’s commercial capital. Export processing zones would be expanded to accelerate industrialisation and job creation, describing the plan as a long-held vision of Khaleda Zia that BNP is determined to realise.
Beginning his speech by greeting the crowd in the local Chattogram dialect, Tarique said that BNP does not believe in playing the political blame game. “Politics must be about implementation,” he said, adding that criticism alone does not solve people’s problems.
He said freedom of expression has been absent for the past 16 years, with people now desiring change and the restoration of political rights. He said that, while the struggle of 1971 secured independence, the uprising of 2024 marked a new chapter in defending that independence.
He said it was from Chattogram that Ziaur Rahman declared independence and where he was later martyred, with his mother Khaleda Zia honoured with the title “Deshnetri”.
My family has a deep emotional connection with Chattogram,” he said.
Tarique said firm action against corruption, extortion and crime would guide BNP governance. He urged voters to support the party’s candidates by voting for its electoral symbol, the “sheaf of paddy”, saying elected representatives would be directly accountable for local development.
The rally was chaired by Chattogram Metropolitan BNP Convener Mohammad Ershad Ullah. BNP standing committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed, along with party-nominated candidates, also spoke.
Earlier in the day, Tarique Rahman joined a youth policy discussion titled “The Plan” at a city hotel, attended by around 300 students. He pledged legal reforms to enable easier, collateral-free bank loans for young entrepreneurs, saying changes in the law would simplify access to finance for small businesses.
Responding to a question on curbing extortion, he issued a blunt warning that tough state action would be taken to eradicate all forms of crime through coordinated efforts by the administration, party leadership and the public.
He said BNP would move beyond certificate-based learning to a practical, employment-oriented education system and recruit 100,000 healthcare workers nationwide to take services closer to communities.
On the issue of women’s empowerment, Tarique added that said development was impossible if half the population remained economically inactive, adding that alongside free education for girls up to Grade Eight, BNP plans to distribute “Family Cards” to women in rural and remote areas.
He also added that “Farmer Cards” would be introduced to provide low-interest loans, boost production, stabilise markets and improve livelihoods.
Tarique arrived in Chattogram by air on Saturday night and left for Dhaka by road after attending a series of programmes on Sunday in the port city.
Along the way, he stopped in Feni and Narayanganj to address rallies and introduce party candidates, urging voters to back them in the interest of democracy and the country.
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has vowed a sweeping crackdown on corruption and extortion, warning that no offender – including those linked to his own party – will be spared if BNP returns to power, blaming years of political patronage for eroding law and order.
Addressing a large election rally at the Chattogram Polo Ground on Sunday, Tarique said that, during former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s tenure, criminals were never granted immunity based on party affiliation.
“BNP believes in the same principle,” he said, adding that restoring public safety would be the government’s top priority alongside decisive state action against corruption.
Turning his attention to waterlogging – one of the city’s most persistent problems – he said countless lives have been crippled by encroachment and the overall mismanagement of canals, wetlands and drainage systems.
“If BNP forms the government,” he said, “a nationwide programme to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals will be launched.” He also announced plans to plant 500 million trees over the course of the next five years and create new forest areas to protect the environment.
The BNP leader said the city would be developed as Bangladesh’s commercial capital. Export processing zones would be expanded to accelerate industrialisation and job creation, describing the plan as a long-held vision of Khaleda Zia that BNP is determined to realise.
Beginning his speech by greeting the crowd in the local Chattogram dialect, Tarique said that BNP does not believe in playing the political blame game. “Politics must be about implementation,” he said, adding that criticism alone does not solve people’s problems.
He said freedom of expression has been absent for the past 16 years, with people now desiring change and the restoration of political rights. He said that, while the struggle of 1971 secured independence, the uprising of 2024 marked a new chapter in defending that independence.
He said it was from Chattogram that Ziaur Rahman declared independence and where he was later martyred, with his mother Khaleda Zia honoured with the title “Deshnetri”.
My family has a deep emotional connection with Chattogram,” he said.
Tarique said firm action against corruption, extortion and crime would guide BNP governance. He urged voters to support the party’s candidates by voting for its electoral symbol, the “sheaf of paddy”, saying elected representatives would be directly accountable for local development.
The rally was chaired by Chattogram Metropolitan BNP Convener Mohammad Ershad Ullah. BNP standing committee members Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed, along with party-nominated candidates, also spoke.
Earlier in the day, Tarique Rahman joined a youth policy discussion titled “The Plan” at a city hotel, attended by around 300 students. He pledged legal reforms to enable easier, collateral-free bank loans for young entrepreneurs, saying changes in the law would simplify access to finance for small businesses.
Responding to a question on curbing extortion, he issued a blunt warning that tough state action would be taken to eradicate all forms of crime through coordinated efforts by the administration, party leadership and the public.
He said BNP would move beyond certificate-based learning to a practical, employment-oriented education system and recruit 100,000 healthcare workers nationwide to take services closer to communities.
On the issue of women’s empowerment, Tarique added that said development was impossible if half the population remained economically inactive, adding that alongside free education for girls up to Grade Eight, BNP plans to distribute “Family Cards” to women in rural and remote areas.
He also added that “Farmer Cards” would be introduced to provide low-interest loans, boost production, stabilise markets and improve livelihoods.
Tarique arrived in Chattogram by air on Saturday night and left for Dhaka by road after attending a series of programmes on Sunday in the port city.
Along the way, he stopped in Feni and Narayanganj to address rallies and introduce party candidates, urging voters to back them in the interest of democracy and the country.
