Sunday
08 February, 2026
News Flash
News Flash
DHAKA, Feb 8, 2026 (BSS) – BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today described the national election on February 12 as an opportunity to rebuild the country and change the destiny of its people, calling on voters to vote for the party’s electoral symbol, Sheaf of Paddy (Dhaner Shish).
“The February 12 election is not just a voting day; it is an election to rebuild the country and change the lot of the people. Vote for Dhaner Shish to help rebuild Bangladesh,” he said.
He made the remarks while addressing a roadside election rally at Adarsh High School ground in Senpara Parbata, Kafrul area, adjacent to Mirpur-10 intersection under Dhaka-15 constituency, marking the first day of BNP’s election campaign in the capital.
BNP’s main rival candidate in the constituency is Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman.
The BNP chairman said his party does not believe in making promises that cannot be implemented.
“BNP always believes that people are the source of all power,” he said.
Highlighting the party’s election manifesto, Tarique Rahman said BNP has outlined plans for women, students, unemployed youth, healthcare, and economic development.
He noted that women constitute half of the country’s population and recalled that during former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s tenure, free education for girls from class one to twelve was introduced.
“If BNP forms the government, we will economically empower women and make them self-reliant,” he said, adding that family cards would be provided to housewives to ensure government support.
On employment, he announced that at least one vocational institute would be established in every area to provide technical and language training, enabling youth to find jobs at home and abroad.
He also said migrant workers would be given access to low-interest bank loans so they would not need to sell land to seek overseas jobs.
Regarding farmers, Tarique Rahman said agricultural cards would be introduced and agricultural loans up to Tk 10,000 would be waived with interest.
“If farmers are good, Bangladesh will also be good,” he said.
On healthcare and infrastructure, he pledged to appoint healthcare workers in villages, establish a hospital for residents of the Dhaka-15 area, and initiate long-pending work on the 100-foot road.
Calling for national reconstruction, he said, “The word is the same, the work is the same—the country must be rebuilt. Our first and last destination is Bangladesh.”
He also paid tribute to those injured and martyred during the July Uprising.
Later, Tarique Rahman addressed rallies at National Bangla High School ground in Dhaka-14, Shyamoli Club ground in Dhaka-13, and Satarkul in Badda under Dhaka-11 constituency.
Earlier in the day, he launched a road rally from the ECB premises in Dhaka-17 and addressed another rally in Pallabi in support of BNP candidate Aminul Haque in Dhaka-16.
Apart from the candidates, BNP executive committee member Tabith Awal, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib, and other party leaders were present at the rallies.
