BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday said his party would lead the nation in the right direction if it comes to power, stressing that the country must not return to the situation that existed before August 5.

While exchanging greetings with editors and journalists at a city hotel, he also said the democratic process and accountability at all levels must be ensured to bring positive change in the country.

“We had problems before, and we still have problems. But clearly, we do not want to go back to the situation before August 5,” the BNP chairman said.

Referring to painful moments from his personal life and the country’s history, Tarique Rahman said he recalls the janaza of his father in 1981, the janaza of his mother on December 31, 2025, and the incidents of August 5, 2024.

“So I feel this is not only about me. For the leaders and activists of my party, and for the people of the country as a whole, these examples are perhaps the clearest reasons why there is absolutely no need for us to go back to the situation before August 5,” he said.

The BNP leader said violence, revenge and counter-revenge always lead to dangerous consequences. “We have seen on August 5 what violence, revenge and vindictiveness can result in—whether by an individual or by a political party,” he said.

Tarique Rahman urged the people of all political views to resolve differences through dialogue, saying differences of opinion should never turn into division.

“Differences will exist, but if we try, many problems can be solved through discussion. These differences must not turn into deep divisions,” he said, adding that division of the nation only leads to suffering and frustration.

He said despite widespread disappointment among people, there is still hope, as many are thinking about the future and making plans.

The BNP chairman said politicians must work for the country’s independence and sovereignty by learning from key moments in history, including 1971, 1990 and August 5, 2024. “If we keep these events in mind and work honestly for the country, I firmly believe we can lead the nation in the right direction.”

“We must continue the democratic process and ensure accountability at all levels at any cost. If we can do this, we will be able to bring the desired change,” Tarique said.

The BNP organised the programme at a city hotel to allow its chairman to exchange greetings with journalists.

Earlier, Tarique Rahman arrived at the venue at around 10:52am and exchanged pleasantries with editors and journalists by moving from table to table.

After formally taking charge as BNP chairman the previous night, Tarique began his first official programme of the day with this interaction with journalists.

The BNP Chairman shared his future work plan for the country and sought cooperation from journalists, saying constructive discussion and criticism would help move Bangladesh forward.

He said if BNP forms the government with a public mandate in the next election, the party has a clear plan, as he indicated on his homecoming day on December 25.

Tarique said a key part of that plan focuses on women, who make up half of the country’s population. “One major initiative is the Family Card, which will be issued to women, particularly housewives. The card will not be for a lifetime but for five to seven years, during which support will be provided. Each family will receive one card.”

He expressed concern over a growing negative trend on social media, where women are being harassed in various ways and said this must be stopped.

The BNP leader urged media professionals to play a strong role in raising public awareness to prevent harassment of women and to help ensure their security and dignity.

He said there are many difficult challenges ahead, but unity is necessary among the people to overcome those challenges and move forward.

Tarique also urged all to work together on issues--healthcare, women’s rights, empowerment, employment, environment, education and public safety-- that directly affect ordinary people.

He said reform has three parts--constitutional reform, legal reform, and reform related to people’s daily lives and security.

While constitutional and legal reforms have been discussed widely, the BNP leader said issues of daily life, such as healthcare, jobs, education and personal safety, need more attention.

Referring to the upcoming election, he said BNP will go to the people with its plans from January 22.

Tarique said BNP welcomes constructive discussion and criticism from journalists if it forms the government — criticism that helps address people’s problems, not criticism for its own sake.

He said after returning to the country, his visits to different places made him feel that the new generation, and in fact all generations, want guidance and hope for the future.

He said politicians may face many expectations, and it may not be possible to fulfil all of them. “But if politicians keep in mind 1971, 1990, and August 5, 2024, and work for the country’s independence and sovereignty, then I firmly believe, as a political worker, that we will be able to lead the nation in the right direction.”

The BNP Chairman warned of a severe water crisis in Dhaka within the next 10 to 20 years if current trends continue.

He said Buriganga is fully polluted, Shitalakkhya is about 50 percent polluted, and even Meghna’s water may become polluted within the next 10 to 15 years.

“About 35 million people live in Dhaka city. They will not get water. Water means life. If this problem spreads across the country, how serious it could be is something we should start discussing now — whether in parliament or in different seminars. Otherwise, a frightening future may be waiting for us, which is very unwanted,” Tarique observed.

He said a large portion of the country’s nearly 20 crore population is young, and urgent steps are needed to create employment opportunities at home and abroad. “If we fail to succeed in this work, then whether we talk about August 5, the 1990 movement, or the 1971 Liberation War, I fear that most, if not all, of our expectations will be destroyed.”

The BNP leader expressed concern over around 7,000 deaths annually from road accidents, mostly affecting poor families who lose their only earning members.

He also spoke about farmers, saying they feed the nation but have no platform to voice their problems. “It’s the responsibility of political parties and the media to listen to them.”

The BNP leader also shared his plan for introducing farmers’ cards for the welfare of farmers.

He said BNP wants to prevent corruption from spreading and gradually bring it to a manageable level.

Tarique warned that rapid population growth is a serious threat and stressed the need for population control.

He said BNP plans to recruit around one lakh healthcare workers, 80–85 percent of them women, to raise awareness on hygiene, health and family planning at the household level.

The BNP chairman also mentioned plans for health cards, healthcare for all, modernising vocational and technical institutes, developing skilled manpower, boosting the IT sector, supporting entrepreneurship, expanding IT parks, and removing barriers to content creation.

The event was attended by editors, senior journalists, heads of national and international media, and senior BNP leaders.

The programme was conducted by BNP Media Cell Convener Maudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel and Press Secretary Saleh Shibly.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the inaugural speech, welcoming the journalists and thanking them for joining the event.