Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday sought votes from the people to build a safe and democratic Bangladesh based on what the party learnt from mistakes made during the party’s previous tenures in the government.
Tarique made the remarks in an election address to the nation aired on state-run Bangladesh Television ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections and the referendum scheduled to be held on February 12.
‘The BNP governed the country several times in the past with public support. During those tenures, there were some unintentional mistakes, for which I sincerely express my regret,’ he said.
He said that the party had learnt from its past shortcomings and now aimed to build a safe Bangladesh for the present and future generations by drawing on its previous achievements.
Tarique urged voters to support and vote for the BNP’s electoral symbol, the Sheaf of Paddy, to ensure the implementation of the party’s plans for the country and its citizens.
He stressed that strict enforcement of the rule of law, strong anti-corruption measures, and accountability of the state to the people were essential to fulfilling BNP’s commitments.
‘If entrusted with state power, the future government will remain accountable to the citizens and will adopt the toughest possible stance against corruption,’ he said.
He said that the people were the ultimate source of BNP’s political power, reaffirming that all party promises were rooted in public trust and democratic legitimacy.
The BNP chief said that restoring the rule of law, ensuring accountability in governance, combating corruption, and removing unemployment were central to building a democratic and safe Bangladesh.
He sought public support to restore people’s ownership of the state through the free exercise of voting rights, as guaranteed by Article 7 of the constitution.
Describing the forthcoming elections as a historic opportunity, Tarique said that it would return political power to the people after years of authoritarian rule, during which democratic institutions were weakened and accountability eroded.
He said that thousands of people had been killed, forcibly disappeared, or injured during years of political repression between the country’s independence in 1971 and the July uprising in 2024, including over 1,400 deaths and at least 30,000 injuries during the mass uprising in 2024, adding that such sacrifices would not be allowed to go in vain.
Tarique also pledged to depoliticise constitutional institutions and ensure that the administration, law enforcement agencies, and the judiciary function strictly in accordance with the constitution.
He said that recruitment, promotion, and postings in public administration would be based on merit and competence, not political loyalty, and vowed strict enforcement of laws to curb corruption and misuse of state power.
Addressing unemployment, the BNP chairman identified job creation as the party’s top priority.
He said that comprehensive reforms in banking, insurance, capital markets, and the broader economy would help generate one crore jobs in phases through increased domestic and foreign investment and region-based economic development.
Tarique announced plans for nationwide technical and vocational education, along with free skills development, freelancing, and outsourcing training at colleges, madrassahs, and universities to prepare young people for employment at home and abroad.
Citing official statistics, he said that more than 27 lakh people were currently unemployed, including about 9,00,000 university graduates, and pledged to introduce a temporary unemployment allowance for educated youth until they secure jobs.
The BNP also pledged to expand cottage industries and small and medium enterprises by providing easy and low-interest loans, while developing information technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, outsourcing, and creative industries to create both direct and indirect employment.
On governance, Tarique said corruption and capital flight had severely damaged the economy, stressing that recovering stolen assets and stopping money laundering were essential to funding social protection programmes and development initiatives.
He said that BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman had incorporated the phrase ‘full faith and trust in Almighty Allah’ into the constitution, which he alleged was later removed by the Awami League government.
‘By the grace of Allah, if the BNP is given the responsibility of running the state again through the people’s verdict in the February 12 election, the phrase “full faith and trust in Almighty Allah’ will be reinserted into the constitution,’ he said.
Tarique said that there had been repeated attempts at social and political aggression against religious beliefs and values and warned that some groups were misinterpreting religion for partisan interests.
He called upon citizens to remain vigilant so that religious sentiments were not exploited for political gain.
Reiterating BNP’s commitment to citizens’ safety, Tarique said all people — regardless of religion or belief — would enjoy equal protection under the law, with communal harmony strictly maintained.
He said that a BNP government would introduce family cards, farmers’ cards, and expatriate cards to ensure government services reach people at their doorsteps.
In healthcare, Tarique pledged to recruit 1,00,000 healthcare workers – 80 per cent of them women, to deliver basic medical services at the grassroots.
Tarique urged voters to cast their ballots for the Sheaf of Paddy on February 12, saying the election would determine whether Bangladesh moved towards accountable governance, economic opportunity, and a people-centred democratic state.
