DHAKA, May 1, 2026 (BSS) – BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said that his government has taken initiatives to reopen closed factories gradually in the country. “We’ve taken initiatives to restart the factories that were shut down in previous years. I have instructed all concerned to determine how quickly each factory can be reopened to ensure employment for unemployed workers. There is a meeting on this matter this week,” he said. The Prime Minister was addressing a Sramik rally in front BNP’s Nayapaltan office in the city this afternoon on the occasion of the International Workers’ Day. Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal organized the rally with its President Anwar Hossain in the chair. Tarique Rahman arrived at the venue at 4:19 pm while thousands of people present in the rally welcomed him with slogans and applause. He also greeted the people by waving hands. “We know that reopening the closed factories alone will not ensure employment for all workers. Along with these workers, there are many more unemployed people in the country,” the Prime Minister said, adding, thus, employment opportunities must be created for them both at home and abroad. “Therefore, we have started discussions with foreign and local investors. We are encouraging them to invest and establish factories in the country,” he said. Noting that if factories are established in the country, workers will get employment opportunities, the premier said, adding, “If workers stay well, Bangladesh will stay well. If farmers stay well, Bangladesh will stay well. That means when the working people of the country stay well, only then Bangladesh will stay well.” Addressing the audience, Tarique Rahman said, “You have seen that there were hawkers on different roads in the capital city, but due to traffic congestion and inconvenience to the public, we have removed them”. “However, we also understand that they are people too, they have families, and they need to survive. Therefore, we have instructed the concerned authorities that eviction alone is not enough; their employment must also be ensured. An elected government will certainly ensure employment for working people,” he continued. At the onset of his speech, Tarique Rahman paid rich tribute to workers who embraced martyrdom at different times, including in the country’s Liberation War in 1971, anti-autocracy movement in 1990, and 72 members of the Sramik Dal who embraced martyrdom during the student-people movement in July and August in 2024. He said that on August 5, 2024, the people of Bangladesh ousted autocracy through a mass movement led by students and people. “During the regime of that dictator, we saw every working individual in this country was deprived of their rights. We saw how the country's economy was destroyed through looting. The country’s industries and factories were gradually shut down and eventually destroyed,” the premier said, adding, however, now, it is the turn of workers, teachers, students, women and men to build the country together.” Referring to his own remarks before the 12 February election that there was no alternative to rebuilding and reforming the state, he said, “Around two and a half to three years ago, we presented a 31-point plan to the people outlining how to rebuild and reform the state”. Stating that before the election, his party promised to implement their commitments if they can form the government, the Prime Minister said, “You have seen, we have started working on our promise as soon as we formed the government. We have given Family Card to women which will gradually reach all families”. As per the election pledges, he said that his government has stood beside farmers by waiving agricultural loans up to 10,000 taka and began distributing Farmer Card among them. Referring to his party’s election promises regarding the sports sector, the BNP chairman said, “We said that we want to produce professional players from the new generation. We want to showcase our players at the international level by training them”. “Just as Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman explored talented children from across the country through the ‘Notun Kuri Competition’, we have also started the same work. We will hunt sports talents from the next generation through the ‘Notun Kuri (Sports) Competition’,” he added. Stating that the country has resumed its democratic journey since February 12, Tarique Rahman said that historically, whenever Bangladesh has moved towards democracy, industries have developed in the country and the economy has strengthened.  He also noted that when the country started walking on the path of democracy under (the then Prime Minister) Begum Khaleda Zia’s leadership, Bangladesh earned the title of an “emerging tiger” globally. The Prime Minister, however, said whenever Bangladesh embarks on the path of democracy, some quarters do not like it. Those quarters do not want to let the people of the country work to change their fate, he added. Since the country embarked on the path of democracy again through the election on February 12, he said, such groups are now trying to take Bangladesh to a controversial position in the global arena.  Nevertheless, the premier stated that the global community sees that the current government has the support of the people. “Now we want to build the country by standing beside the people of the country, who are working hard and moving forward. That’s why our slogan during the election was ‘Korbo Kaj, Gorbo Desh, Sobar Agee Bangladesh (We will work and build the country, Bangladesh first)’. This is our current and future slogan,” he said. On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, the Prime Minister urged all to take a pledge to prepare themselves as “workers of nation-building” and dedicate their lives for that. Asking the audience if they were willing to commit to this vision, Tarique Rahman reminded them of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman’s words: “Prothom Bangladesh, Amar Shesh Bangladesh, Jibon Bangladesh, Amar Moron Bangladesh”, saying, “In fact this Bangladesh is our final destination”. This was Tarique Rahman’s first rally in Nayapaltan after assuming office as Prime Minister. BNP Secretary General and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Prime Minister's Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan and Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Senior Joint Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Sramik Dal Chief Coordinator Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, MP, Md Amanullah Aman, MP, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam, State Minister for Fisheries And Livestock and State Minister Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque spoke at the rally. Besides, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan, Rafiqul Islam Majnu, MP, Jubo Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Nayan, MP, Krishak Dal President Agriculturist Hasan Zafir Tuhin and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) Central President Rakibul Islam Rakib also spoke, among others. Earlier, despite adverse weather, people began gathering at the venue from the morning. Wearing red caps and T-shirts and carrying banners, leaders and activists arrived in processions, creating a lively atmosphere with slogans and applause.