By Tina Khanam
 
Dhaka, July 23, 2026 (BSS) - The story of sacrifice and loss due to politics in Bangladesh over 15 years is not a tale at all but a reality. During this long period, a huge number of people have been victims of disappearances, murders, disabilities and political discrimination. The list of those who lost their relatives is also quite long. There are also victims of torture. The lives of many leaders and activists were in trouble for a long. A special cell of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) 'Amra BNP Paribar' was formed to stand by them. However, going beyond politics, it has now become one of the country's most important social and humanitarian organisations. The main patron of this organisation is Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
 
Tarique Rahman has already set many examples of humanitarian assistance. He has stood by Rituparna Chakma, the star player of the Bangladesh national women's football team. He once donated money to build her house. Once again, the premier helped in the treatment of her mother Bhujopati Chakma, who was suffering from cancer. Not only Rituparna, 'Amra BNP Paribar' has stood by countless helpless people in the country. The humanitarian organisation is delivering assistance at people's doorsteps.
 
Last year, to stand by Rituparna, the organisation's chief adviser Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi reached Rituparna's house by crossing the remote mountain roads of Rangamati. He inquired about the treatment of her ailing mother.
 
Similarly, food assistance was provided to 18 fishermen's families in Saint Martin's Island, standing by the family of Swarna, who was killed in a BSF firing in Moulvibazar, meeting and cooperating with a young drone inventor in Banshkhali, Chattogram. From political activists to fishermen, rickshaw pullers, inventors, and orphans, the organisation's assistance has reached all classes of people.
 
Amra BNP Paribar Member Secretary, Agriculturist Mokchedul Momin Mithun, said the organisation started its journey on March 22, 2024 under the patronage of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. However, its activities started earlier. Under the leadership of Atiqur Rahman Rumon, the convener of Amra BNP Paribar and the Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary, it has transformed from a party forum into one of the country's most humanitarian platforms in a short time.
 
Amra BNP Paribar was formed with the aim of standing by the families affected by political violence, enforced disappearances, murders, extrajudicial killings and torture. The organisation is currently conducting various medical, educational, rehabilitation and social assistance activities. However, the organisation's activities came into new discussion after the 2024 student-public mass uprising.
 
Youngster Abdullah bin Zahid was killed during the 2024 mass uprising. A few days later, his family learned that his younger brother Jisan (14) was suffering from colon cancer. A few days later, their father also passed away.
 
The life of Fatima-Tuj-Zohra, a mother who almost went crazy after losing her son, was plunged into the darkness of uncertainty. On one hand, there was the grief of losing her husband and elder child, and on the other hand, the treatment of her younger son. Amra BNP Paribar stood by her during this difficult time in her life. The then acting chairman of BNP, Tarique Rahman, took full responsibility for Jisan's treatment.
 
Jisan's mother Fatima-Tuz-Zohra breathed a sigh of relief after her son recovered from illness with the financial assistance.
 
She told BSS that the mercy of Allah and the support they received from Amra BNP Paribar is incomparable. “The organisation has borne the entire cost of Jisan's treatment. I will remember this humanity for the rest of my life," she added.
 
Not only Jisan's family, the organisation stood by the families of young students who were paralysd by bullets on the streets during the 2024 mass uprising.
 
At that time, the organisation's members went to various hospitals in Dhaka, including Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital, National Institute of Ophthalmology, Enam Medical and Kurmitola, and provided emergency treatment and long-term financial assistance to the injured ones.

On August 14, 2024, financial assistance was provided to 33 injured students at Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital. On August 25, donations were given to 31 injured people at National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), National Institute of Ophthalmology, Enam Medical and Kurmitola Hospital. From September 16 to 19 of the same year, Taka 1,65,000 was provided for the treatment of the injured in various hospitals in Dhaka. On October 26, Taka 10 lakh was provided to 19 families in Uttara in the capital. On December 7, Taka 1,40,000 was provided for the treatment of the injured at the National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery.
 
According to the latest data, so far, Amra BNP Paribar has taken responsibility for the direct rehabilitation of 292 martyred families and 285 injured people. In addition, it has arranged regular educational assistance and monthly scholarships for about 180 children.
 
Amra BNP Paribar Member Secretary Agriculturist Mokchedul Momin Mithun said Tarique Rahman, who had been based in London since 2009, used to inquire about the families of victims of political violence in different parts of the country.
 
“In the beginning, a small team worked silently. The team did the work of delivering Eid food items, providing medical expenses or taking responsibility for the education of their children. But by 2023-24, this silent initiative took institutional form,” he said.
 
Currently, the humanitarian aid of this organisation has reached more than 40 districts, including Sylhet, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Chittagong, Feni, Noakhali, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Bogura, Rajshahi, Pabna, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Barishal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Pirojpur, Magura, Gazipur and Narayanganj.
 
Mithun said not only donations, but one of the most discussed aspects of the organisation is long-term rehabilitation activities. Notable among those are the construction of a new house for the family of Shaheed Rabbani in Nilphamari, and the construction of a house for the family of Shaheed Harun, a victim of extrajudicial killings in Feni, he said.
 
In addition, assistance was provided to build houses for families affected by the fire in Chauddagram, Bogura and other areas, a new rickshaw was gifted to injured rickshaw puller Saiful, and auto-rickshaws were provided to helpless families.
 
Providing educational assistance to orphans and children of martyrs is also an important task of the Amra BNP Paribar, Mithun said.
 
He said notable activities include providing educational scholarships to children of families affected by enforced disappearances, murders and political violence, providing monthly educational assistance to children of about 150 families, covering the education expenses of Shaheed Rabbani's daughter, providing financial assistance for the education of a rickshaw puller's daughter, covering the wedding expenses of daughters of Shaheed Zakir and Shaheed Harun's families, and greeting the children of martyred families who have passed SSC.
 
Mithun said Amra BNP Paribar distributed food and clothing to the flood victims of Feni and Noakhali in 2024.
 
“Pure drinking water, medicines and baby food were provided at Feni Sadar Hospital. In addition, medical assistance was provided to cancer patients, kidney patients and heart patients. Free eye camps and wheelchairs were distributed. After the treatment of the helpless Rosali of Shahbagh, a house was built for her,” he said.
 
In addition, he said, there are plans to build new houses for the family of martyr Mashiur in Magura and the family of martyr Tarik of the July Movement in Chapainawabganj.
 Mithun said work is underway to build a mosque for the local people in Pur village of Monirampur upazila of Jashore.
 
He said the convener of the organisation, Atiqur Rahman Rumon, has been in touch with the families of victims of enforced disappearances, murders and torture for a long time.
 
His team collects information about who needs medical treatment, whose children have stopped studying, and where there is no food in the homes of martyrs and arranges assistance, he said.
 
The issue of delivering Eid gifts, food items and medical assistance despite surveillance during the fascist regime is also a special topic in the party circles.
 
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also told various party events that Amra BNP Paribar was formed with the determination to stand by the victims.
 
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the chief adviser of the Amra BNP Paribar and adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, told BSS, "Party Chairman Tarique Rahman is the main sponsor of the Amar BNP Paribar. The cooperation provided by the party is provided through this organisation. The organisation was formed by the party to help people in various ways, including standing by the families of the injured party leaders and activists and the deceased, standing by the helpless talented students, and helping someone discover something new. These works are done on the instructions of the Prime Minister.”
 
He said it has happened that the BNP leaders may not have received any information from the country, but the party chairman came to know from London through various means that someone needed support, he instructed Amra BNP Paribar convener Atiqur Rahman Rumon.
 
“Then we tried to quickly deliver that cooperation to different parts of the country. Houses are being built for helpless people who do not have a house, auto-rickshaws are being bought for some people, and medical assistance is being provided. In this way, the members of the organisation are running around the country extending their hands of cooperation,” he said.
 
Rumon said, "Along with our regular work, we stand by the helpless players, victims of plane crashes, people in need in hospitals, helpless people affected by floods, affected farmers and countless other affected people. We will stand by them. Under the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, our goal is to stand by the people and work to improve their life standard."
 
Mithun said a humanitarian leader like Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is a blessing for Bangladesh. “Under the directives of the prime minister and the plan of his additional press secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon, our special team is trying its best to do humanitarian work across the country. I don't know how much it can do. However, our humanitarian work will continue," he said.
 
Amra BNP Paribar is a practical application of 'humanitarian politics', where social responsibility is also being given importance, according to political analysts.