United News of Bangladesh

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday said politics must move beyond decades of blame and confrontation, and instead focus on improving the lives of ordinary people and standing by them in times of need. “Those of us who are in politics—who do we do it for? We do it for the people of this country. In short, in simple words, standing beside the people is the highest form of politics,” he said while virtually addressing a programme in Jashore where BNP provided financial assistance to a three-year-old girl, Afia, who was born with albinism, a genetic condition. Tarique said true politics is about serving people and easing their suffering, not just criticising rival parties from public platforms. “If politics is only about blaming one another, it does not fill people’s stomachs. Politics must be about what helps people live better lives.” US officials hold virtual meeting with Tarique Rahman on tariff issue Referring to the long-standing practice of confrontational politics, he said the time has come for a change in political culture. “We have followed a certain style of politics for many years. Now we need to change it. We want to take politics closer to people’s welfare.” The BNP chairman said political work should also mean standing by people during natural disasters like floods, storms and cyclones, as well as during personal and social crises. “Going to people and standing beside them in their hardship is the real politics.” The assistance programme was organised for Afia, a child from Jashore who was born with albinism. Afia and her mother have been living in severe hardship after her father rejected the child and accused his wife of infidelity due to the baby’s physical condition. Tarique Rahman expressed sympathy for Afia and her mother, saying no child should face discrimination or suffering because of a genetic condition. “There are many Afias in Bangladesh, and many helpless mothers like her. They are also children of this country. We must think about them.” He said BNP wants to support such vulnerable people as part of its effort to practise people-centred politics. “As we stand beside Afia today, we want to stand beside every helpless person in the country.” Referring to the political changes after August 5, when an authoritarian regime fled in the face of mass movements, the BNP Chairman said the interim government has taken some reform initiatives, mostly in constitutional and legal areas. “But, reforms must also include compassion for vulnerable people like Afia and her mother.” Tarique Rahman holds first meeting with Prof Yunus in Bangladesh Tarique outlined several initiatives the party plans to take if it comes to power with public support through the next election. He said BNP plans to introduce a Family Card programme to support poor families, with cards issued in the name of women as heads of households to ensure direct support to families. Highlighting the importance of agriculture, the BNP chairman said nearly half of Bangladesh’s population is directly or indirectly dependent on farming and most people live in rural areas. “If farmers get fair prices for their produce, the whole country benefits.” He said BNP plans to introduce a Farmers’ Card to support farmers and help increase production so people can get agricultural products at fair prices. Tarique Rahman also announced plans to revive large-scale canal excavation programmes, recalling similar initiatives during the time of his father and martyred President Ziaur Rahman. He said restoring canals would help address irrigation problems, water shortages, floods and waterlogging in both rural and urban areas. On healthcare, he said millions of rural people, especially women and children, are deprived of basic medical services. He said BNP has a plan to recruit and train one lakh health workers who will provide basic healthcare services at people’s doorsteps in villages. The BNP Chairman said the party also aims to economically empower women, building on the free education for girls up to higher secondary level introduced during the tenure of late BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. “If women become economically self-reliant, the country will move forward faster.” “Insha’Allah, when the BNP forms government in the coming days, just as Begum Khaleda Zia always stood beside you, so too will her party, BNP stand firmly beside you,” Tarique said. He said one of the BNP’s most important commitments and responsibilities is to ensure employment opportunities for women in this country and to economically empower them on a stronger foundation. Tarique Rahman said BNP has planned to introduce a state-supported allowance and honour system for imams, khatibs, muezzins and other religious leaders if it comes to power through the February 12 election. The aim, he said, is to ensure that they can live in society with dignity, self-respect and honour.“If we truly want to build the Bangladesh we aspire to, then we must move forward with this oath and with the slogan: ‘We will work and build the country, Bangladesh first.”  

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday urged the country’s people to actively contribute to rebuilding the nation by taking initiatives from their respective positions. “Let us all, from whatever position we are in, try to rebuild our country anew. Let each of us make our best effort for the country, within our own capacity,” he said. Tarique made the call while addressing thousands of party leaders, activists and supporters from the second-floor balcony of the BNP central office at Nayapaltan in the afternoon, shortly after arriving there, marking his first visit after 19 years. Tarique to visit BNP’s Nayapaltan central office today He also said that if anyone sees a piece of paper or any litter lying on the road, they should remove it. “By doing such small acts, let us come together to build our country step by step.” Greeting the gathering, Tarique also requested party leaders and activists to clear the road quickly so that ordinary people can move freely. “I request everyone to leave the road as soon as possible. There is no programme here today, and keeping the road blocked will cause inconvenience to the public. Since there is no programme, we should leave this place as soon as possible. Inshallah, when we hold a programme, I will speak in front of you all,” he said. Tarique also urged all to pray for him and for BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. “Please pray for our leader Begum Khaleda Zia. Stay well,” he said. Tarique arrived at the BNP central office at around 4:05pm. Security personnel had to struggle to bring his vehicle to the office gate amid a huge crowd of party leaders and activists. After greeting the crowd, he went to his newly prepared chamber on the second floor of the building. This is the first time in 19 years that he has resumed office activities at Nayapaltan. He last visited the party office in 2006. Ahead of the visit, security was tightened in and around the Nayapaltan office. The main gate of the office was closed from 12:35pm on Monday, while only some senior BNP leaders were allowed to enter the office. Earlier on Sunday, he visited the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office and stayed there for nearly nine hours. Tarique returned home from London on December 25 after nearly 17 years. He went to London with his family on September 11, 2008, for advanced medical treatment and later settled there.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said urged the young generation to come forward with courage and integrity, avoiding the path of revenge and hostility, to harness the country’s future potential for prosperity. “If you move forward with courage and honesty, avoiding revenge and rivalry, I believe that all doors of potential are open for the prosperity of future Bangladesh,” he said pointing at the members of the young generation, while addressing a discussion in Dhaka through a virtual platform. In this context, he said the only determinant of Bangladesh’s success and prosperity can be its population. Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechchasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal jointly organised the discussion titled 'Future Bangladesh: Expectations of Youth Society and BNP's Plans' at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre on the occasion of International Youth Day. Tarique Rahman said people now want a shift from the traditional politics. “People's aspirations - the aspirations that almost all political parties have spoken about more or less - are not fulfilled by only promises, but rather by the implementation of the promises, which BNP believes in,” he said. The BNP leader said this is why he presented his party’s sector-wise plans and they are now preparing strategies to ensure the implementation of the plans. The BNP acting chairman called upon the country’s youths to present BNP’s people-oriented plans to all the masses. “If the people give BNP the opportunity to govern the state, Inshallah, we will gradually implement these plans in the days ahead,” Tarique said. He also sought votes for the Sheaf of Paddy (BNP’s electoral symbol) from the country’s people of all walks of life, including youths.  Establishing people’s rule now main challenge: Tarique Rahman Tarique also pledged that if BNP wins the public mandate to form a government through the election, it will run the country in unity and harmony. “The interim government and the Election Commission have announced that, InshAllah, the national election will be held next February in a Bangladesh free from fascism after one and a half decades of authoritarian rule. I call on all men, women, students, youth and people from all walks of life to vote for the paddy sheaf in the coming election and give us the chance to build the country,” he said. The BNP leader said he asked for the support of everyone who spoke at the event, as well as party leaders, activists and journalists, to deliver one simple message to the people of the country: “If you vote for the paddy sheaf, we will build the country together.” Outlining his party’s plans to develop a youth community based on reason and logic, Tarique said BNP’s politics focuses on creating employment in the coming days, with the main goal of providing jobs for the unemployed. “When more than half of a country’s total population is of working age, it is called a demographic dividend. With this in mind, our current population can become the main driver of development, as most of our people are of working age. We just need to turn this population into a productive workforce,” he said. Tarique also said BNP believes if the country’s population, especially the youth, are given technical education and skills, it will become a blessing for the nation. He said they also have a plan to train young people interested in sports. “Alongside technology skills, some young people want to develop themselves in sports, and we must give them that opportunity.” The BNP leader said they plan to restart ‘Notun Kuri’ in the near future if voted to power. “We will add a new subject to it that will include sports. This means we will identify those among our country’s future generations who show talent in sports alongside cultural life. For this reason, we can include sports education in the curriculum to help establish these games as a profession.” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Publicity Secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku, BNP student affair secretary Rakibul Islam Bakul, Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna,  Swechchasebak Dal general secretary Rajib Ahsan, JCD president Rakibul Islam Rakib, Chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Junaid Saki, NDM Chairman Bobby Hajjaj, Playwright and July worrier Mabrur Rashid Bannah, Dhaka University’s visually impaired student Md Tafsar Ullah, journalists Mukatadir Rashid Romeo and Shariful Islam Khan, among others, spoke at the event presided over by Swechchasebak Dal president SM Jillani.