Families, farmers, future: How Tarique Rahman plans to transform public life in Bangladesh
The BNP chief shared his ideas with the editors and journalists of newspapers, television channels, and online media
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said that he and his party plan to transform public life in Bangladesh, focusing on health and economy among other issues, by taking the right and necessary development measures.
Tarique, who returned to Bangladesh on 25 December, ending over 17 years in exile, shared his and his party's visions while speaking at an interaction with editors, journalists, and owners of newspapers, television channels, and online media today (10 January) at a hotel in Dhaka.
At the beginning of the event, Tarique exchanged greetings with many of the attendees in the audience. He went from table to table, shook hands, and had small conversations.
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He said the BNP will begin reaching out to the public with its plan from 22 January, ahead of the 13th national polls slated for 12 February.
"We will welcome discussion and criticism from you all, so that they can be used to address the problems faced by the country's people," he said.
Referring to the 1971 Liberation War and the mass uprisings of 1990 and 2024, the BNP chief said, "If we work for the country keeping the spirits of these movements in mind and for the cause of independence, it will be possible to reach the right destination."
Universal social security programmes
He said these initiatives will be implemented through a family card system, aimed at empowering women in rural areas.
"We are conceptualising universal social security programmes, such as the family card system, in a way that benefits farmers, imams, teachers and ordinary citizens in a similar manner.
"Implemented in phases, such initiatives can help gradually reduce corruption," he added.
He went on to say, "Our objective is to make educated women economically self-reliant. The family card initiative I mentioned earlier is designed precisely with this goal in mind – to empower women across society."
Speaking at the event, he said women – who make up half of Bangladesh's population – are a core focus of the BNP's broader development plan.
He said Bangladesh has an estimated 40 million families, with an average of five members per household, and the programme is being planned with this structure in mind.
"Under the initiative, the family card will be issued in the name of a woman in each household. However, it will not be a lifetime entitlement. Homemakers will receive the card for a limited period of five to seven years," he added.
He stated that support under the scheme may be provided either through a fixed financial allocation or essential food items, depending on assessed needs.
Why support will go directly to women
Citing past experience, the BNP chairman said when women receive direct assistance, it is generally used in three priority areas: healthcare for the family, children's education, and savings or small-scale investments.
"When women begin investing – even modestly – the local economy strengthens naturally, starting from the village and spreading to the upazila and district levels," he said.
He added that healthier and better-educated families create a ripple effect that drives community-wide progress.
Tarique said the programme will be rolled out gradually, step by step, with the aim of building a more self-reliant Bangladesh.
He said the BNP plans to provide financial assistance to rural women to help them achieve financial stability.
Boosting foreign currency earnings
Speaking about foreign exchange earnings, Tarique Rahman said the BNP is considering two key drivers: the garments sector and remittances from migrant workers.
He noted that about one million Bangladeshis go abroad for work each year, with around 600,000 to 700,000 heading to the Middle East.
With proper language training and basic skills development, he said migrant workers would be able to perform better and earn more foreign currency.
He also said entrepreneurs who export 100 percent of their products would be given bonded facility benefits to help expand employment opportunities.
Differences of opinion shouldn't turn into conflicts
Tarique Rahman said, "We must ensure that differences of opinion do not turn into divisions. Even if there are disagreements, they should be resolved through dialogue. We do not want to return to the situation that existed before 5 August 2024."
He further said, "We are facing tough challenges. The democratic process must be kept alive at all costs. We had problems, we have problems, but we do not want to go back to the time before 5 August 2024. Therefore, putting aside differences, everyone must work together."
The BNP chairman said politicians must work for the country's independence and sovereignty by learning from key moments in history, including 1971, 1990 and 5 August 2024.
"If we keep these events in mind and work honestly for the country, I firmly believe we can lead the nation in the right direction," he added.
Rethinking IT parks and supporting content creators
Mentioning that the BNP wants to take a different approach to developing IT parks, he said where IT parks already exist, young people working in information technology should be brought together and provided with free Wi-Fi and small office spaces.
"This would allow them to operate more effectively, expand their businesses, create jobs and eventually build larger companies," he said, adding that the model is both realistic and achievable.
He also highlighted the growing number of young content creators working on platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. To support them, he said government policies must be streamlined so their incomes can grow and they can access international markets.
Tarique Rahman said discussions have already been held on simplifying payment systems for digital creators, and that such measures could be implemented quickly if the BNP comes to power.
Healthcare model to focus on prevention
Referring to his experiences in London, where he lived for the past 17 years, Tarique said even developed countries are struggling to sustain expensive, hospital-based healthcare systems and are increasingly shifting focus towards disease prevention.
He said treating serious illnesses requires huge expenditure on medicines, doctors, hospital beds and infrastructure, whereas preventing disease significantly reduces costs.
"If people are made aware of which foods to avoid to prevent kidney disease, heart conditions and diabetes, overall public health improves," he said, citing studies that show prevention-based awareness reduces state healthcare spending.
Based on this approach, Tarique said the BNP wants to design a healthcare system centred on prevention, with basic training for health workers so they can go into communities, raise awareness and help people stay healthy before illness sets in.
He said they plan to improve the ambulance services as part of their aim to develop Bangladesh's health sector.
"During my time abroad, I observed how other countries operate, particularly the emergency services and healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. There, even the response time of an ambulance, how many minutes it takes to arrive, is a subject of political debate.
"In contrast, if Dhaka continues on its current path, a severe crisis could emerge within the next 10 to 15 years," he said.
"Our goal is to ensure healthcare for the country's 20 crore people. This is not limited to hospitals alone; emphasis must also be placed on public awareness, nutritious food, hygiene and preventive healthcare. Just as European countries prioritise preventive healthcare, we too must move in that direction," he stressed.
Youths and employment
After returning to the country, Tarique, who formally became the BNP chief yesterday (9 January), said he had the opportunity to visit several places, including Savar. "It seemed to me that the new generation is seeking guidance. They want to see hope."
The lack of employment for the young workforce should also be addressed, he said.
"We also have plans to expand overseas employment. With vocational and technical training, along with language education, migrant workers will be able to earn more, thereby increasing remittances.
"At present, garments and remittances are the two main pillars of our economy, but we must also develop new export sectors," he said.
Water crisis
Mentioning that there is a drinking water crisis while Dhaka's rivers remain heavily polluted, the BNP chief said these matters should be addressed.
"Today, the Buriganga River is 100% polluted, the Shitalakshya River is nearly half polluted, and pressure on the Meghna River is also increasing. If this trend continues, the future shortage of safe water could become catastrophic," he said.
Women's safety
On the issue of safety, he said a journalist raised concerns about women's security. "I believe both women and men have the right to security."
The BNP wants to combat harassment against women on social media, describing the phenomenon as a growing trend. "This issue will be a top priority for the party."
'There must be accountability'
Tarique also said there is no scope for Bangladesh to return to the situation that existed before 5 August 2024, referring to the ouster of the Awami League through the July Uprising.
"We have many differences of opinion among ourselves, and those differences will remain. But as a political activist, I urge everyone to keep the democratic process alive. There must be accountability," he said.
Senior journalists present at the event included Mahfuz Anam, editor of The Daily Star; Inam Ahmed, editor of The Business Standard; Shakhawat Liton, executive editor of The Business Standard; Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh; Mostofa Kamal, editor of Khaborer Kagoj; Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age; Hasan Hafiz, editor of Kaler Kantho; and Abdul Hye Sikder, editor of Jugantor.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed and Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed were also present.
