In a gesture blending compassion with political outreach, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman has extended support to Bhujopati Chakma, the cancer-stricken mother of national football star Ritu Porna Chakma, celebrated as the “Golden Girl” of Bangladesh.
The move underscores the BNP’s efforts to connect with communities in remote regions as it gears up for the 2026 parliamentary elections, signaling a softer, people-centric approach under Rahman’s leadership.
On Wednesday morning, a delegation from Amra BNP Paribar, led by Senior Joint Secretary General and Chief Adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, visited Bhujopati Chakma in the remote hill village of Magachhari, Ghagra Union, Kaukhali Upazila, Rangamati.
Acting on Tarique Rahman’s directive, the delegation delivered medical assistance and conveyed his personal message of sympathy, pledging ongoing support for the family.
The visit, widely shared on X, has been praised as a testament to the BNP’s commitment to grassroots welfare, though some critics view it as a strategic pre-election move.
Ritu Porna, a standout striker for Bangladesh’s women’s football team, recently made headlines by scoring two goals in a 2-1 victory over Myanmar in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers and a brace against Turkmenistan.
A philosophy student at Dhaka University, she draws inspiration from her late father, Baraj Banshi Chakma, who succumbed to cancer in 2015. Her mother’s ongoing battle with the disease has drawn public sympathy, amplified by Ritu’s rising stardom.
The Amra BNP Paribar delegation included convener Atiqur Rahman Rumon, Chattogram Divisional Assistant Organizing Secretary Barrister Mir Helal, Engineer Ashraf Uddin Bakul, member secretary Moksedul Momin Mithun, and Jatiya Press Club member Zahidul Islam Roni. Local BNP leaders, including Rangamati District President Dipan Talukder Dipu, General Secretary Advocate Mamunur Rashid Mamun, and Chittagong South District Convening Committee member Rajib Jafar Chowdhury, also joined, alongside Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s Shariful Islam Tuhin.
The visit aligns with the BNP’s broader strategy to rebuild its image as a party attuned to public struggles, particularly in marginalized areas like the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
However, posts on X question whether the aid is a genuine act of compassion or a calculated effort to bolster Tarique Rahman’s appeal ahead of his anticipated return from London exile.
The BNP’s outreach comes amid a delicate geopolitical context, with India closely monitoring Bangladesh’s political shifts. Rahman’s engagement with Ritu Porna’s family, from the Chakma indigenous community, also signals an inclusive approach, potentially countering criticisms of the BNP’s historical ties to Islamist allies. As Bangladesh navigates its interim government phase under Muhammad Yunus, such initiatives highlight the BNP’s bid to blend humanitarianism with political ambition, setting the stage for a competitive electoral landscape.