People's fate changes whenever sheaf of paddy elected: Tarique

Whenever the sheaf of paddy has been elected, the fortunes of the people of this country have changed, and Bangladesh has progressed, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman said today (23 January).

"If we review past records, we will see that every time people elected the sheaf of paddy, the country developed and people's fate improved. That is why I am seeking votes from you in favour of the sheaf of paddy as a candidate," he said while addressing a public rally in the capital's Bhashantek area.

The Bhashantek area falls under the Dhaka-17 constituency, which is Tarique's electoral seat. During the rally, he invited people from different professions onto the stage, listened to their local problems and assured them of solutions.

The BNP chairman said that if the party forms the government in the upcoming election, residents of Bhashantek's slum areas will be rehabilitated.

Outlining BNP's plans, he noted that many Bangladeshis go abroad every year in search of work without proper skills. "We want to provide them with different types of training, either during or even before the completion of their education, so that they can secure employment both at home and abroad and become self-reliant," he said.

Tarique also announced plans to introduce family cards for women heads of households and agriculture cards for farmers. Through these cards, farmers would be able to access agricultural loans easily, along with crop insurance, fertiliser and seeds.

He stressed that resolving issues related to public security, employment, education and healthcare requires a democratic government elected by the people. "Only a people-elected government can solve people's problems," he said.

Referring to recent political developments, Tarique said, "There has been a movement, a struggle, and the fall of authoritarianism. Now we must rebuild the country," noting that every sector of the country has been destroyed over the past 15 to 16 years and said democracy must be restored to rebuild them.

Democratically elected representatives would be accountable to the people and accessible to address local problems, unlike the past years when people could not approach their MPs with their concerns, he claimed.

Tarique also spoke about youth development, saying many young people aspire to become professional athletes. "We want to organise the sports sector in a way that allows boys and girls to become professional players and earn a living through sports by bringing forward talented individuals," he said.

At the rally, Tarique Rahman led the crowd in a pledge, "We will work, we will build the nation, Bangladesh first," saying that to implement the BNP's plans, the sheaf of paddy must be victorious across the country.