BNP’s manifesto prioritising future economic dev
Reza Mahmud :
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is preparing its election manifesto for the February polls by prioritising the future Bangladesh’s economic development and aspirations of the youth generation.
The party has organised all components of the manifesto by integrating its 31-point reform agenda for repairing the state structure with upholding the spirit of July Uprising.
The manifesto will be divided by three parts – short term, middle term and long term consisting its plans how to run the country if voted to power in the upcoming polls scheduled for February 12, 2026.
Party leaders involved in drafting the manifesto shared these with The New Nation.
They said, the short term plans will include facilities such as Family Cards, Farmers’ Cards etc.
The middle term plans to be added and Health Cards, unemployment allowance, and such other things.
The long term plans include sustainable future economic development, making Bangladesh’s dignity high through building diplomatic relationship with other countries upholding own pride.
When contacted, BNP Standing Committee’s senior member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain Sunday told The New Nation, “We are preparing polls manifesto giving importance what Bangladesh the young generation want.”
He said, “BNP’s manifesto will be a firm commitment of rebuilding Bangladesh as per dreams and desires of the next generation.”
Sources said, BNP’s election manifesto is being draft as per taking people’s opinions that what they are wanting to their future elected government.
It will then be formally announced, party insiders say.
They said, overcoming the grief of Khaleda Zia’s passing, the BNP is now refocusing on its election campaign. As part of this effort, the BNP is actively working on preparing its election manifesto.
A member of the party’s Standing Committee said, the manifesto will soon be unveiled, incorporating eight package-based plans of the three terms.
A reliable source involved in drafting the manifesto said that the manifesto will also prioritise environment cards, and monthly honorariums for Khatibs, Imams, and Muazzins. In addition, the manifesto will incorporate key elements of BNP’s 31-point agenda, including the independence of the Election Commission, protection of human rights, freedom of expression, transparent administration, and recovery of the national economy. In line with the July Charter, the manifesto will also outline action plans to ensure full independence and neutrality of the National Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and other state institutions.
BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council Member Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal told The New Nation, “Nation-building plan” are fundamentally derived from the manifesto itself.”
Alal said agriculture, education, and healthcare will be given priority in the manifesto, along with sustainable economic development, while employment opportunities for youth will also be emphasised.
The source added that restoring democracy, ensuring judicial independence, restructuring the governance system, protecting human rights, decentralising administration, and strengthening the anti-corruption framework will be included as core issues.
Under the family card initiative, monthly financial assistance of Tk 2,000-2,500 or essential food items such as rice, lentils, oil, and salt will be provided.
For farmers, a secure and reliable farmer card is proposed, ensuring fair-priced fertiliser, seeds, pesticides, government subsidies and incentives, affordable agricultural machinery, low-cost irrigation, easy agricultural loans, crop insurance, fair pricing for agricultural produce, agricultural training, mobile-based weather and market information, mobile crop treatment services, and inclusion of fisheries and livestock farmers under the same scheme.
Earlier, talking with journalists, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the party’s manifesto will aim at fundamental democratic reforms, people-centric governance, and economic emancipation. To this end, the party is reaching people at the grassroots across the country and conducting outreach through mass media and social media.
He said that implementation of the manifesto will ensure the economic and democratic liberation of the people, build a strong democratic state, bring about revolutionary reforms in the parliamentary system, reconstruct all democratic and constitutional institutions, and strengthen democracy on a solid foundation. These institutions will act as safeguards of democracy. The drafting of such a manifesto is now at its final stage and will be released after the election schedule is announced.
Sources said, under BNP’s plan for building a healthy Bangladesh, all hospitals and health centres will be brought under accountability mechanisms to prevent corruption. Around 100,000 new health workers will be recruited nationwide, 80 percent of whom will be women. Gradually, primary healthcare services will be ensured for all residents of metropolitan and district towns.
Under the theme of joyful education, skilled manpower, and a modern Bangladesh, primary and secondary school teachers will receive modern and time-relevant training, along with enhanced facilities, including tablet computers. Multimedia classrooms will be established in primary and secondary schools using educational images, videos, documentaries, and online content to support curriculum and moral education.
From Class Six, education will be made more engaging through teamwork, personal skill development, and family, social, and moral education to develop responsible citizens. To create opportunities for domestic and overseas employment and higher education, third-language education-such as Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Italian, and Mandarin-will be introduced at the secondary level alongside Bangla and English.
To promote self-employment and overseas jobs, vocational education will be made mandatory alongside general education at the secondary level. Sports such as football, cricket, and swimming, as well as music, dance, and drama, will be incorporated into the curriculum to foster well-rounded individuals.
In prioritising health and nutrition, a clean and pleasant environment will be ensured for teachers and students, hygienic toilets will be constructed, and a ‘mid-day meal’ programme will be introduced gradually nationwide, particularly for students in marginalised and remote areas.
Employment opportunities will be created by encouraging talented youth to join the teaching profession across third-language education, sports, culture, IT, and vocational fields, while the economic and social status of existing cadre and non-cadre teachers will be gradually enhanced.
Sports will be established as a profession, made mandatory from Class Four in the national curriculum, and scholarships will be provided to talented athletes aged 12-14 through the “Notun Kuri Sports” programme. Indoor sports villages will be built in all 64 districts, sports officers and teachers will be appointed in every upazila, subject-based sports teachers will be recruited in educational institutions, and BKSP branches will be established in every divisional city.
At least 20,000 kilometres of canals and rivers will be excavated and re-excavated nationwide to ensure water flow. Projects similar to the Teesta Barrage upgrade and the Padma Barrage will be undertaken. Over five years, 250 million trees will be planted and maintained, and integrated waste management systems will be gradually developed across the country.
Regarding improving the social status and quality of life of khatibs, imams, and muezzins, monthly honorariums will be provided along with special allowances during religious festivals. Skill-development training will be offered to create alternative employment opportunities. Monthly honorariums and festival allowances will also be provided to the heads of places of worship of other religions, including Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and others.