Restoring trust in Allah, Caretaker Govt; good governance, employment, no-revenge BNP's key election pledges

BNP chairman Tarique Rahman announcing his partys election manifesto at Sonargaon Hotel on Friday 6 February 2026.

Announcing BNP's election manifesto on Friday, February 6, party chairman Tarique Rahman said that since  it's establishment 47 years ago, the party has never lost its goal. After independence, the country had turned into a bottomless pit. Shaheed Zia stabilised the country and started the trend of development. Begum Khaleda Zia put the country on the highway of development. Tarique said that now it is the turn of restructuring the country.

Tarique Rahman announced his party's election manifesto at an event at Sonargaon Hotel.

Political leaders of BNP and other parties, members of various diplomatic missions in Dhaka, journalists and media workers were present.

He said that the 31-point programme and the July Charter must be implemented. Most of the reforms proposed in the July Charter were in the 31-point plan. If fascism is not to be repeated, there must be democracy, rule of law and accountability.

Stressing the importance of preserving the memory of the Liberation War in a neutral manner, he said that BNP is the only party that can own the Liberation War and the people's uprising.

Regarding state structure reforms, he said that the trust and faith in Allah, which the Awami League government removed from the Constitution, will be restored. At the same time, the caretaker government provision will be re-established for free and fair elections.

A person will remain the Prime Minister for a maximum of 10 years. Article 70 will be gradually removed.

BNP is talking about an Upper House to include people from all classes and professions in the work of building the country.

The spread of corruption must be prevented for good governance. In 2001, the BNP government inherited corruption in the country. After five years of strict rule, Khaleda Zia left the country corruption-free in 2006.

Speaking about the importance of the independence of the judiciary, he mentioned that he himself and his family have suffered due to the politicisation of the judiciary. BNP will introduce an ombudsman for good governance.

In this context, he said that his party does not believe in revenge because it cannot bring peace in the society.

He spoke about providing merit-based opportunities to eliminate discrimination in the society.

He said if accountability is established locally, democracy and development will accelerate. There will be no need to come to Dhaka to solve all problems.

People with special needs will be included to ensure non-discriminatory development. There will be a family card in the social security program, which will be available only to women. Through it, food items worth 2500 taka or equivalent will be sent per month. There will be a farmer card. If these supports can be continued for 5 years, the recipients will come to one stage. Apps will be provided on mobile phones to help them with their economic activities.

The Parental Support Act will be implemented. The state will stand by the deprived parents. 

Women will be empowered economically and socially. 70 percent of garment workers are women. We will promote women in other industries. Agricultural loans up to 10,000 taka will be waived with interest. Irrigation will be developed by digging 20,000 kilometers of canals. The closed Barendra project will be restarted.

A programme to plant suitable trees to combat climate risks has been undertaken. 250 million trees will be planted in 5 years.

Steps will be taken to ensure fair prices for agricultural products by reducing the distance between farmers and markets. Arrangements will be made to preserve crops by expanding the cold storage network.

Tarique Rahman said that 2.7 million people are unemployed in the country. Unemployment must be eliminated by 2040. 

Vocational institutes will be reorganised based on the skills needed in different countries of the world in the next 10 years. 

Budget allocation for education will be gradually increased to 5 percent. Uniforms will be introduced in primary and secondary schools.

The health system will be built based on disease prevention. Efforts will be made to reduce family expenditure in this sector by developing health services for all.

A credible defense capability will be ensured by building modern, self-sufficient, and four-dimensional armed forces to protect national sovereignty. One Rank One Pension Policy will be formulated to ensure justice and equality among members.

The main philosophy of foreign policy is Bangladesh first. Independence, sovereignty, national interest, national security and welfare of the people will be given top priority in every field.

BNP is determined to ensure the safe, voluntary, dignified return of the Rohingya to Myanmar with full citizenship rights.

A fair share of the water of the Ganga, Teesta and all transboundary rivers of Bangladesh will be ensured through negotiations.

6 months of maternity leave with pay for working women will be implemented.

Remittance warriors will be given incentive.

In addition to planting 250 million trees, carbon trading income will be increased from the current few million dollars to one billion dollars.

Democratisation of the economy, elimination of the oligarch class, development of the middle class and building a trillion dollar economy will be the economic goals. There will be no sudden policy changes, so that business is not affected. The banking sector must be freed from political influence.

BNP's goal is to develop the SME sector, provide targeted support to industry, reopen closed factories, and provide bonded facilities to export-oriented industries. 

If the service sector is developed properly, employment will increase along with development.

The goal of development of the power and energy sectors will be uninterrupted power supply. Steps will be taken to increase the share of renewable energy to 20 percent by 2030.

An affordable transportation system will be developed through railways.

Steps will be taken to increase content creation and export. Free internet will be provided and PayPal allowed to open an office in Bangladesh to make it easier for remittance foreign currency into the country.

Strict legal measures will be taken against cyberbullying against girls.

The revenue system will be developed to help generate employment and increase income of the people.

Chittagong will be developed as a commercial capital and agro-based industries encouraged in the northern region.

A Coastal Development Board will be formed to develop a blue economy.

Various steps will be taken to develop tourism.

Honorariums will be given to Khatibs, Imams and Muezzins of mosques and religious leaders of other places of worship.

The cost of Hajj will be reduced by making space a third airline.

Freedom of the media will be protected. At the same time, programs will be taken for the development of art and culture. Nutan Kuri will be further developed. Kirat competitions will be added to it.

Documentaries will be made and other activities undertaken to promote values.

Tarique Rahman said, none of what I have said so far will however be possible unless corruption is curbed, rule of law and accountability are established.

Earlier in his opening speech, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that after being vocal for 15 years, we are now going to get free elections. Tarique has brought a new message. The victory of youth is set to begin.

In the past, we have seen promises abound but implementation is the opposite. BNP has no excessive talk in the manifesto, he added.

Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the party's standing committee and head of the central election management committee, gave the vote of thanks. BNP Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi conducted the function.