BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today spoke at an election rally organised by Khulna Metropolitan and District BNP at Prabhati School ground in Khalishpur. Photo : BSS

KHULNA, Feb 02, 2026 (BSS) – BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday said it is not possible to move the country forward by keeping behind the women as they are representing almost half of the country’s total population.  

In this context, he said that no development initiatives can be succeeded without ensuring women’s active participation.

The BNP Chief made the remarks while addressing an election rally organised by Khulna Metropolitan and District BNP at Prabhati School ground in Khalishpur here as the chief guest.

Noting that Bangladesh has a population of around 200 million and of which nearly half are women, he said adding sidelining such a vast segment of society would make any plan for national progress futile. 

Tarique Rahman recalled that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had introduced free education for girls from school to intermediate level to ensure women empowerment so that they could stand on their own feet.

Criticizing what he described as an anti-women remark by a certain political party ahead of the election, he said one party has openly declared that it does not believe in women’s leadership. 
He also condemned the use of indecent language by a leader of that party towards working women, calling it as a disgrace not only for women but for the entire country.

He said millions of women are contributing to the national economy, particularly in the readymade garments sector, while women from lower-middle and middle-income families are working alongside their husbands to cope with rising commodity prices. “So, insulting working women is unacceptable,” he added.

Referring to Islamic history, Tarique Rahman said those, who speak of establishing Islam should remember that Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) wife Hazrat Bibi Khadija (RA) was a successful business woman. No one has the right to demean women’s professional lives.

The BNP chairman also alleged that false propaganda was being spread over the hacking of the X (formerly Twitter) handle of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman. 

“A section of people is trying to create confusion claiming that vote counting would take a long time,” he said describing it as a fresh conspiracy ahead of the polls. 

He added that experts have clearly stated that there is no possibility of such hacking in the manner being claimed.

Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh must move forward through real work, not mere rhetoric, and emphasized that the country must be rebuilt by including people of all parties, classes and professions. “National reconstruction is impossible by relying on only one group.”

Referring to the upcoming general election slated for February 12, he said BNP and its electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ organised the rally as part of the campaign. 

He alleged that over the past 15–16 years, BNP has carried out numerous movements during which many leaders and activists were subjected to enforced disappearances, killings and murders, while thousands and lakhs of activists from BNP and other political parties faced harassment, torture and fabricated cases.

He further said that people of Bangladesh have been deprived of their voting rights for the last 16 years, not only in national elections but also in local government polls.

During this period, he said people were unable to express their opinions freely, and many who tried to speak out were abducted, forcibly disappeared or killed under the cover of night.

The BNP Chairman said that rebuilding the country is not possible by focusing on a single class alone, stressing that people of all political views, professions and social strata must be united to reconstruct Bangladesh.

“If BNP forms the government, its priority will be national reconstruction, alongside immediate improvement of law and order and eradication of corruption,” he said.

Regarding unemployment, he said employment generation would pave the way for building a discrimination-free Bangladesh irrespective of religion, caste, gender or profession.

Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh must move forward through concrete actions, not empty rhetoric. 

Reiterating that rebuilding the nation would be BNP’s foremost responsibility if it comes to power, he said no country can be rebuilt by excluding any section of people in society.

About the country’s population, he said Bangladesh has nearly 200 million people, of whom at least 100 million are women. “So the country cannot make progress by keeping such a vast segment of women behind,” he observed.

Tarique Rahman said that ahead of the election, a political party has openly declared that it does not believe in women’s leadership. 

He said a leader of that party recently used indecent language against working women, which is shameful even to mention. Those who disrespect women and snatch away people’s voting rights can never be patriotic or pro-people.

He said millions of women working in the garment sector are keeping the wheel of national economy moving, while women from lower-middle and middle-class families are working alongside their husbands to cope with soaring prices of essentials. 

“Yet these very women are being humiliated today,” he added.

He further alleged that facing widespread criticism, the concerned political party took shelter behind the excuse of ID hacking, but experts have clearly stated that there is no scope for such hacking in the manner claimed. 

“By deceiving people ahead of the election, they are exposing their true character,” he said.

Remembering the freedom fighters, he said they had fought in 1971 to bring independence, and in the 2024 mass uprising, students and people took to the streets to oust fascism and protect that independence.

Mentioning the closure of industries in Khulna that has turned the region into a “dead city,” Tarique Rahman said BNP, if elected, would reopen the closed jute mills, create employment for both men and women, and generate jobs for youths through the IT sector. 

He pledged to create employment based on merit and competence, involving people of all religions and communities, to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh.

He also announced that a “family card” would be delivered to every housewife to make women self-reliant, while farmers would be given “agriculture cards” to access agricultural loans, fertilizers and seeds. He further announced waiver of agricultural loans up to Tk 10,000 along with interest.

Tarique Rahman raised the slogan, “Work we shall do, build the nation we shall, Bangladesh first.”

Terming BNP is an experienced party in running the country, he said BNP would be capable of governing the nation in the days ahead as well. He urged voters to cast their votes in favour of the BNP’s election symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ in the February 12 election.

Later, he introduced, holding hands, the party-nominated 14 parliamentary candidates from Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts.

With Khulna city BNP President SM ShafiqulAlam Mona in the chair, parliamentary candidates from Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira, leaders of BNP’s front organisations, and local party leaders, among others, addressed the rally, which was conducted by Khulna city BNP General Secretary SM ShafiqulAlam Tuhin.

Tarique Rahman began his speech at 12:45 pm and concluded it at around 1:15 pm. A large number of leaders and activists from Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts attended the rally.