Staff Reporter :
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman announced on Monday that the BNP has a plan to introduce family cards to provide food support to impoverished families across Bangladesh if the party returns to power.
Speaking virtually at a public rally at Kishoreganj Old Stadium, Tarique outlined his vision for addressing food insecurity in the country.
“If the BNP is able to come to power with the people’s mandate in the future, we will introduce a family card system that will ensure food support is provided based on the needs of each household,” Tarique said.
He elaborated on his plan, stating, “As a political activist, it is my desire to serve the country once again.
If we receive the support of the people, we will identify every family in Bangladesh and issue them a family card.
This card will serve as a means for receiving food assistance directly from the state.”
At the rally, financial assistance was also provided to the families of those who were martyred or injured in the student-people mass uprising of July-August.
Tarique emphasized that the primary aim of the family card initiative would be to provide relief and allow families to save and gradually become more economically stable.
“If we continue this support for a few years, I believe rural families will become more self-sufficient,” he added.
He further noted that the BNP’s central objectives are not only to restore the political rights of the people but also to achieve their economic empowerment.
“We want to make the people of Bangladesh economically self-reliant,” Tarique said.
Highlighting the need to honor the achievements of past uprisings, he called for building the nation in line with public aspirations. He acknowledged that while past dictators have been ousted, remnants of those regimes still linger in the country.
Tarique urged the interim government to take concrete steps to secure the political rights of the people and fulfill their expectations, reflecting on the 17-year struggle to achieve this.
He also warned the public to remain vigilant, ensuring that no new conspiracies arise that could undermine efforts to restore political rights during the interim government’s tenure.
“Only a government elected by the people can fulfill such tasks because it is accountable to the people,” he said.
Tarique criticized the deposed autocrats and their allies for attempting to divide the nation to maintain power. In contrast, he emphasized that the BNP seeks unity, not division.
Referring to those who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of voting rights, he said, “Their sacrifices will be truly recognized when a government of the people is established.”
The event was presided over by BNP Kishoreganj district unit President Shariful Alam.