BNP confident over huge victory relying Tarique’s rallies
Reza Mahmud :
While the whole nation is awaiting for the Thursday’s Parliamentary polls, the BNP is showing confidence over huge victory in the race relying on its Chairman Tarique Rahman’s countrywide tour.
Party insiders said, Tarique Rahman has achieved most of the voters trust in his travel of 26 districts in the last 20 days.
During his countrywide electoral tour Tarique Rahman highlighted BNP’s pledges of family card, farmer card, recruitment of 100,000 health workers, midday meals in schools, youth employment, sports as a livelihood, canal excavation and tree plantation, support for religious leaders, digital economy and global connectivity, law and order and anti-corruption focus, which attract the people’s minds, the party men believe.
As the campaigning for the 13th parliamentary election ended on Tuesday morning the BNP Chairman has wrapped up his 20-day nationwide campaign tour covering 26 districts — following the rallies in Dhaka on Monday.
The deadline for the election campaigning was ended at 7:30am on Tuesday, marking the close of the campaign that began on 22 January.
During the period, Tarique Rahman undertook seven campaign tours across the country, addressing around 30 public rallies in 26 districts. He is also speaking at more than 20 rallies in Dhaka.
The BNP chief formally launched his election campaign from Sylhet. On his first tour on 22 January, he addressed public rallies in seven districts over a continuous 16-hour schedule – Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Bhairab in Kishoreganj, Narsingdi and Narayanganj.
On 25 January, he campaigned in Chattogram division, holding six rallies across four districts. After rallies in Chattogram and Feni, he addressed three separate gatherings in Cumilla and again spoke at a rally in Narayanganj.
He also campaigned in Mymenshigh, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Bogura, Rangpur, Sirajganj and Tangail. Subsequent tours included Khulna, Jashore, Barishal, Faridpur, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Nilphamari.
At the rallies, the BNP chief outlined his party’s key election pledges, including family assistance cards, job creation, and improved law and order if the BNP forms the next government.
Tarique Rahman said if elected, the BNP government would introduce a “family card” programme for women and marginalised and low-income families, ensuring monthly assistance of Tk2,500 or essential commodities of equivalent value.
He said the amount would be increased gradually to help families achieve economic self-reliance.
To ensure fair prices for agricultural produce, he pledged to expand subsidies, easy loans, agricultural insurance and state-supported marketing through a “farmer card”. Fisherfolk, livestock farmers and small agribusiness owners would also be covered.
He promised to recruit 100,000 health workers to build a corruption-free and humane healthcare system, improve quality treatment at district and metropolitan levels, ensure comprehensive maternal and child healthcare, and expand preventive health services.
BNP plans to introduce a nationwide midday meal programme in primary schools, alongside reforms aimed at practical skills-based and values-driven education, greater emphasis on primary education, and increased technological support for teachers and students.
To secure the future of young people, he pledged job creation initiatives, technical and language skills training, support for startups and entrepreneurs, integration with global e-commerce platforms, and merit-based recruitment in government jobs.
Tarique said sports infrastructure and training facilities at district and upazila levels.
For environmental protection and climate resilience, he pledged excavation and re-excavation of 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals, plantation of 25 crore trees over five years, and the introduction of modern waste management systems.
To strengthen social harmony, he said a BNP government would introduce welfare schemes, including stipends and training-based support, for religious leaders of all faiths.
Digital economy and global connectivity He pledged to introduce international payment systems such as PayPal, establish regional e-commerce hubs, and expand exports of “Made in Bangladesh” products.
The BNP chairman said controlling law and order and curbing corruption would be top priorities of a BNP government.
On corruption, he said a future BNP government would take firm measures to eliminate graft, recalling what he described as successful anti-corruption efforts during former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s tenure.