BNP leader Moyeen Khan vows to bridge rich-poor divide, urges women to claim their rights

BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan on Saturday said his party is committed to building an equitable Bangladesh, one where the gap between rich and poor narrows and the everyday suffering of ordinary people comes to an end.
Khan made the remarks while addressing a memorial gathering marking the death anniversary of his mother, Khorsheda Banu, organized by the Khan Foundation at Madhabdi in Narsingdi district.
“We want to build an equitable society in Bangladesh, one where the gap between the rich and the poor narrows and people’s suffering is removed,” Khan told the gathering. “We must work so that the people of this country can live in peace and happiness.”
A Call to Women: “No One Will Hand You Your Rights”
Turning to the women in attendance, Khan delivered a pointed message on self-determination, drawing on his own experience in public life. He said rights are not given freely — they must be claimed.
“Until you seize your rights for yourselves, no one will hand them to you,” he said. “At best, we can stand beside you and offer support — and that is something we have continued to do.”
Roots in an Ordinary Family
Despite his prominent political standing, Khan described his family background as unremarkable — much like millions of others across the country. His father, the late Abdul Momen Khan, served as a cabinet secretary, but Khan noted that his father’s career began modestly, as a lecturer in economics at Calcutta Government College.
The family’s history of activism runs deeper still. Khan said his grandfather, Abdul Barik Khan, was also a teacher — one who lost his job for his involvement in the anti-British independence movement.
Remembering Khorsheda Banu
In her remarks as chair of the event, Khan Foundation Executive Director Advocate Rokhsana Khandaker paid tribute to Khorsheda Banu, describing her as both an affectionate mother and a quietly dedicated servant of the nation’s welfare. She said Khan has carried his parents’ legacy forward, earning recognition not just in Narsingdi but across the country.
Khandaker traced the foundation’s roots back to the devastating floods of 1988, after which Khan and his mother launched extensive rehabilitation and development work in the Narsingdi area — efforts that continue today. Since 1993, the Khan Foundation has focused on empowering disadvantaged and marginalized women. This year alone, the foundation distributed roughly Tk 14 crore in rural micro-loans aimed at advancing women’s economic independence.
Family Joins from Abroad
Khan’s three daughters — Naushin Khan, Naurin Khan and Nahrin Khan — addressed the gathering via video call from the United States and the United Kingdom.
The event drew a broad turnout of local dignitaries, including the Narsingdi district administration, the superintendent of police, senior district and upazila officials, the vice-chancellor of Millennium University, along with local civil society figures, political leaders, and Khan Foundation staff and beneficiaries.
The program concluded with a special prayer for the eternal peace of Khorsheda Banu’s soul.