Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Tarique Rahman has outlined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) roadmap for serving the people and called on journalists to work towards ensuring accountability, stressing that constructive criticism is vital to solving Bangladesh’s challenges.
The BNP chairman spoke at a Dhaka hotel during a session with editors from print, electronic, and online media on Saturday.
“In Sha Allah, if we gain the people’s support and are able to form the government, we hope to receive the kind of discussion and criticism from you that will help us move the country forward.
“Not criticism for its own sake, but so that we can address the problems facing our people.”
He further explained that the party has a concrete plan should it secure a mandate in the next election.
“When I returned to the country on Dec 25, I said, ‘I have a plan’, echoing Martin Luther King’s famous words. Part of that plan focuses on Bangladesh’s women, who make up half the population. This includes a ‘Family Card’ programme.”
According to Tarique, Bangladesh has around 40 million families, calculated on an average of five members per household, which would form the framework for targeted support.
Tarique returned with his family after more than 17 years in self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom.
After the death of his mother and former prime minister Khaleda Zia on Dec 30, he was appointed chairman of the BNP during a meeting of the party’s Standing Committee on Friday.
Saturday’s session marked his first engagement with the media in his new role.
On maintaining democracy, Tarique emphasised dialogue over conflict to resolve differences among citizens and political activists. “We must uphold the democratic process at any cost, starting from Feb 12, In Sha Allah. Our accountability mechanisms must remain fully operational.”
He expressed confidence that democratic practices at national and local levels could bring meaningful change, noting past struggles and historical events that have shaped his perspective: “We had problems before, and we still have them. But we do not want to return to the situation of Aug 5.
“My experiences -- from 1981, through Dec 31, 2025, to Aug 5, 2024 -- show that this is not just my concern alone.”