BNP only party capable of rebuilding country: Tarique

“BNP is the only party that knows how to run the state properly. We have the experience, the plans and the proven record to move Bangladesh forward,” he said while addressing an election rally at Kamal Ataturk Avenue playground in Banani under his Dhaka-17 constituency.

Tarique said Bangladesh witnessed severe hardship after independence, recalling the 1974 famine in which lakhs of people died.

He said the situation changed under the leadership of late President Ziaur Rahman.

“A country that once suffered famine later achieved food self-sufficiency and even exported food during President Ziaur Rahman’s tenure,” the BNP chief said.

Recalling political developments of the 1990s, Tarique said that after years of autocratic rule, the people entrusted BNP with state responsibility under the leadership of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

“Bangladesh then transformed into an emerging tiger through various reforms, and thousands of industries were established,” he added.

The BNP chief said if voters elected the Sheaf of Paddy, his party’s election symbol, in the February 12 election, the party would use its past experience to rebuild the country and address current challenges.

“Our main task now is state reconstruction. We have driven out authoritarianism. The next goal is to rebuild the country,” he said.

Tarique identified unemployment, particularly among educated youth, as one of the biggest challenges facing the nation.

“No country can be rebuilt by keeping a large number of young people unemployed. We must create jobs at home and abroad,” he said.

The BNP Chairperson also promised support for migrant workers, saying many people are forced to sell land or homes to go abroad for work.

“If BNP comes to power, we will introduce low-interest loans so expatriate workers can go abroad with dignity and contribute productively to the country,” he said.

Seeking votes as the Dhaka-17 candidate, Tarique urged local residents to support him and the party’s candidates across the country.

“I am asking for your verdict in favour of the Sheaf of Paddy so that we can change people’s lives and take the country forward,” he said.

Referring to his political upbringing, Tarique said he learned from late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia that a nation must be built by its own people.

“They always believed that we must build our country ourselves. No one else will do it for us,” he said.

On the final day of his election campaign, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to address eight rallies across Dhaka, including in his own constituency and seven other parliamentary seats under Dhaka South City, reports UNB.