BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has pledged to ensure political and economic empowerment for every citizen of the country, saying the upcoming election is not merely about a change of power but about restoring state ownership to the people.

He made the remarks in a nationwide address on Monday night, which was broadcast on Bangladesh Television. In his speech, Tarique Rahman outlined the core features of the BNP’s election manifesto and action plan aimed at building a self-reliant, humane, and justice-based Bangladesh.

According to the BNP chief, the February 12 election presents a major opportunity to restore citizens’ lost political rights. Keeping this reality in mind, he said, the party has already announced its manifesto with the goal of ensuring both political and economic empowerment for people across all sectors and professions. BNP’s plans, he added, are designed to create a self-sufficient Bangladesh that benefits every segment of society.

Tarique Rahman further stated that all BNP policies have been finalized with the objective of reinstating the social, economic, and political rights of the current generation while securing a safe and humane future for the next generation. He emphasized that employment generation and a fair working environment for young people, the unemployed, and women would be the party’s top priority if it comes to power.

At the beginning of his address, he paid deep tribute to those who lost their lives in the movement to restore democracy. Referring to years of political struggle, he said the nation now stands at a historic moment where, after immense sacrifices, state ownership is poised to return to the people. He described the past decade and a half as a period marked by enforced disappearances, killings, and abductions of pro-democracy activists. He termed secret detention centers as “living graves” and recalled that more than 1,400 people were killed and over 3,000 injured during the mass uprising of 2024, stressing that these sacrifices would not be allowed to go in vain. He offered prayers for the deceased and expressed sympathy for the injured and their families.

Addressing employment, Tarique Rahman announced a large-scale job creation plan for the country’s nearly 200 million people, particularly targeting youth and the unemployed. He said BNP aims to create one crore (10 million) new jobs in phases if elected.

He also announced social safety initiatives, including the introduction of a “Family Card” issued in the name of women heads of households from low-income and marginalized families. Under this program, beneficiaries would receive a monthly allowance of 2,500 taka or equivalent food support. For farmers, a “Farmers’ Card” would be introduced to provide updated information, direct financial assistance, and subsidies on fertilizers and seeds.

Highlighting women’s empowerment, Tarique Rahman pledged to further advance female education, continuing free education for women up to the undergraduate level. He promised daycare centers and breastfeeding corners at workplaces, the introduction of women-friendly electric transport, strict enforcement of laws against cyberbullying and violence against women, and the construction of clean public toilets for women in cities.

On education reform, he said the system would be modernized to meet contemporary needs. To reduce dropout rates, vocational and technical education would be made mandatory from the secondary level. He also announced that, alongside Bangla and English, students would have the opportunity to learn a third foreign language to better face global challenges.

In the health sector, Tarique Rahman said BNP would adopt a “prevention is better than cure” approach. Under this policy, 100,000 healthcare workers—80 percent of them women—would be recruited nationwide. These workers would provide basic medical care and health advice by visiting households at the union level.

Regarding public administration, he pledged that merit would be the sole criterion for recruitment and promotion. He also promised timely implementation of a national pay scale for government employees and vowed zero tolerance toward corruption. Referring to allegations of annual capital flight amounting to around 16 billion dollars over the past 15 years, he said preventing such losses would make it easier to fund welfare programs like family cards and unemployment benefits.

For expatriate Bangladeshis, estimated at around 15 million, Tarique Rahman announced plans to introduce a “Probashi Card” to prevent harassment at airports and ensure investment protection. He also promised easy, collateral-free loans for workers seeking overseas employment.

On religious issues, he said the constitutional phrase expressing “full faith and trust in Almighty Allah” would be reinstated, reiterating the principle that religion belongs to individuals while the state belongs to all. He assured security for followers of all religions and pledged state financial support for imams, muezzins, and religious leaders of other faiths.

Concluding his speech on an emotional note, Tarique Rahman appealed to voters to cast their ballots in favor of the BNP’s symbol, the sheaf of paddy. Acknowledging that the party may have made unintended mistakes in the past, he said BNP seeks to learn from those experiences to build a safe and inclusive Bangladesh for present and future generations. Addressing voters directly, he said that on February 12 they should entrust BNP candidates with responsibility, and from the following day, their elected representatives would take responsibility for them. He also urged young voters to cast their first vote for the sheaf of paddy.