BNP plans to create 10 million jobs in 18 months if voted to power: Amir Khasru
he opposes Jamaat chief’s call for local polls before national election
BNP plans to launch a nationwide employment initiative to create 10 million jobs within 18 months if it returns to power, said the party's Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury today (28 June).
Speaking at the "Sylhet Business Dialogue" at the Jalalabad Gas Auditorium in Sylhet, he said the programme would generate 100,000 jobs each month – hinting at how their party is committed to addressing the unemployment crisis head-on.
Khasru also emphasised that meaningful economic reform cannot take place without separating business from politics and ending what he termed a "fascist" grip on the economy.
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"Over the past 17 years, the creative dynamism once present in Bangladesh's economy has been destroyed," he said.
He further stated that the old ways of politics will no longer work, as the mindset of the Bangladeshi people has changed.
The dialogue, organised by the BNP chairperson's Adviser Khandaker Abdul Moqtadir, focused on the challenges and opportunities within the Sylhet region and the broader national economy.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu and former president Fazlul Hoque were present as special guests. Business leaders from Sylhet and BNP-affiliated organisations also took part in the event.
Khasru opposes Jamaat chief's call for local polls before national election
Meanwhile, Khasru dismissed the idea of holding local government elections before the national polls, stating it is "not possible at all."
He reaffirmed BNP's full readiness for the upcoming national election.
His remarks came in response to recent comments made by Jamaat-e-Islami's Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, who suggested that local elections should be held before the national election.
Speaking to reporters, the BNP leader rejected this notion, underscoring that BNP's priority remains the national election.
Last night, the Jamaat leader said, "Local elections should be held first for two reasons. Firstly, a kind of chaos is prevailing at all levels of the interim government. This situation cannot be resolved by the government alone; all political parties must work together to address it promptly."
As another reason, he stated that local government elections should be held before the national election to demonstrate the Election Commission's competence and credibility.
