A party speaks in authoritarians’ language: Tarique

As election drums grow louder across the country, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday turned Mymensingh’s Circuit House Maidan into a charged campaign arena, launching a pointed political attack on Jamaat-e-Islami while rolling out promises aimed at youth, farmers, women and working families.

Without naming Jamaat directly, Tarique accused the party of speaking the language of an “authoritarian party” and pushed back against claims that BNP presided over widespread corruption during its 2001-2006 tenure.

“They accuse BNP of being a champion of corruption,” he said. “My question is simple: Two of their own leaders were ministers in the BNP government. If BNP was so bad, why didn’t they resign?”

He argued that those leaders remained in office because the then prime minister Khaleda Zia was taking firm action against corruption—an assertion he said underlined BNP’s governance credentials.

Call for national unity

The Circuit House ground became a sea of flags, slogans and emotion as Tarique delivered one of his most expansive campaign speeches yet, blending calls for national unity with sharp political criticism and a broad policy agenda ahead of the February 12 election.

He urged people to rise above caste, creed and religion, invoking both the 1971 Liberation War and the July Uprising of 2024.

“We achieved independence through immense sacrifice in 1971,” he said. “And on August 5, 2024, students and people from all walks of life once again stood up to protect that freedom.”

Recalling moments of national crisis, Tarique said unity had always been Bangladesh’s greatest strength. “No one asked who came from the hills or the plains, who was Muslim or Christian. This time, on February 12, we must stand united again,” he said. “If we remain united, we can rebuild the Bangladesh we dream of.”

Framing the election as a historic turning point, he added: “Work for the country, build the nation. Bangladesh above everything.”

‘No votes, no development’

Turning to regional grievances, Tarique said districts including Mymensingh, Netrakona, Jamalpur and Sherpur had suffered years of neglect due to the absence of genuine democratic representation.

“There are problems with bridges, roads, schools, colleges and culverts that should have been fixed long ago,” he said. “But nothing happened because people were denied their voting rights.”

Blaming what he described as “night-time elections,” he argued that leaders who did not face voters had little incentive to deliver development.

Promises for youth, farmers and families

Tarique outlined a wide-ranging policy agenda targeting key voter groups. He pledged family cards for women, farmer cards for farmers, health cards for all citizens and expanded job-creation programmes to tackle unemployment.

Focusing on youth empowerment, he said employment through factories, trade and skills training was essential to combat drug abuse and social despair.

For Mymensingh, he promised job creation through fish fry exports, timely distribution of seeds and pesticides, and special initiatives to engage young people in skill development and keep the region drug-free.

He also pledged to expand healthcare services, including home-based basic medical care, and improve the living standards of imams and muezzins through training and support.

Jobs, dignity and opportunity

“Youth want jobs,” Tarique said. “We need factories, businesses and safe opportunities so young people can work with dignity instead of falling into drugs or despair.”

He described economic opportunity as both a development priority and a tool to restore social stability.

Farmers, fishermen and exports

Highlighting Mymensingh’s role in fish fry production, Tarique said BNP would support farmers and fishermen through direct benefits and export-oriented policies.

“Our farmers and fishermen feed the nation. They deserve direct support,” he said, recalling BNP’s past role in boosting food production and rural infrastructure.

Women, welfare and family cards

Invoking Khaleda Zia’s legacy, Tarique recalled the introduction of free education for girls from Class 1 to 12, saying it transformed women’s participation in society.

“More than half of our population is women,” he said. “If we leave them behind, the country cannot move forward.”

He proposed a “family card” for working women and housewives to help manage household expenses.

Health, safety and election warning

On healthcare, Tarique pledged to upgrade district hospitals across the Mymensingh division. He ended with a warning ahead of polling day.

“Voting alone will not be enough,” he said. “Polling centres must be protected.”

Candidates unveiled, campaign accelerates

In a symbolic moment, Tarique introduced 24 BNP candidates from Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Netrakona and Sherpur, formally handing them the party’s paddy sheaf symbol.

“I am entrusting them to you,” he told supporters. “Make them victorious so they can serve you.”

Tarique arrived in Mymensingh by road around 3:30pm, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman. Thousands lined the roads, causing heavy traffic as security struggled to clear the motorcade’s path.

Before the rally, he met families of those killed or injured in the July Uprising and past democratic movements, offering condolences. Zubaida Rahman, who did not address the rally, stood beside him, frequently waving to the crowd.

The rally, presided over by Mymensingh-5 candidate and South District Convener Zakir Hossain Babul, was attended by senior BNP leaders including Afzal H Khan, Kaiser Kamal, Lutfozzaman Babar and divisional organisers.

As the event ended, Tarique left for Gazipur to attend another rally, underscoring BNP’s intensifying nationwide campaign. In Mymensingh, his message was clear: unity, vigilance and votes as the February 12 election approaches.