Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday pledged strict action against corruption and a firm law-and-order approach if his party comes to power.
Speaking at a BNP election rally at the historic Polo Ground in Chattogram, he said public safety would be ensured and no one would be above the law, regardless of position or political affiliation.
Addressing local challenges, Tarique highlighted waterlogging as a major problem in Chattogram and promised coordinated measures, including canal dredging, to make the city flood-free.
He also emphasised the importance of industrial development, citing Chattogram’s Export Processing Zones (EPZs) as key employment hubs. “A BNP government will expand the EPZs and transform Chattogram into the country’s commercial capital,” he said.
On governance, Tarique pointed to previous BNP administrations, including his mother and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s tenure, saying offenders were never spared, even if they were party members. He pledged a similar zero-tolerance approach toward crime and corruption if BNP returns to power.
He criticised corruption during the 1996–2001 Awami League government, noting that BNP had reduced corruption when in office. He also lauded the 2024 student movement as a milestone in safeguarding freedom, emphasizing that citizens have long sought restoration of rights to education, health, and political participation.
Tarique outlined BNP’s development plans, including reforming the education system, expanding healthcare access, and recruiting 100,000 health care workers nationwide. He emphasized women’s empowerment, promising family cards for women in rural areas to ensure access to essential services.
On agriculture, he said boosting farmers’ welfare is critical for national prosperity. “Through farmer cards, they will receive low-interest loans to increase production and help control inflation,” he said.
Concluding his speech, Tarique Rahman said, “To build a better Bangladesh, two priorities must guide us: ensuring public safety and decisively tackling corruption.”