News Flash
DHAKA, Jan 10, 2026 (BSS)- BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today said differences of opinion should not escalate to the level of conflicts.
He said, “The nation has seen the consequences of vengeance or retaliation on August 5, 2024. Even if there are differences of opinion, they must be reduced through discussion. Differences should not escalate to the level of conflict.”
Tarique Rahman made the remarks during an exchange of views with editors and journalists from national-level media outlets of the country at the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Sheraton in Banani in the city.
BNP Chairman said, "We had problems. We have problems. Certainly, we do not want to go back before August 5, 2024. If I think from my position, on one side of me there is a funeral from 1981, a funeral from December 31, 2025, and on the other side, an incident from August 5, 2024. I think this is not just for me alone; probably for my party leaders, workers, members, and for the entire nation. “These two are perhaps the best examples to choose and realize that there is no reason for us to go back before August 5," he added.
"We saw on August 5 what the consequences of violence, revenge, and vengeance can be- whether for an individual, a party, or however we consider it. Therefore, I would request everyone, irrespective of party affiliation, that we will have differences of opinion, but if we try, perhaps we can resolve many problems by keeping those differences as differences and solving them through discussions."
Tarique Rahman further said, "But it must not in a way by escalating to the level of conflict. We have seen what can happen if differences turn into division and the nation is divided. That's why today we hear words of despair from many. But still, the hopeful thing is that they also have thoughts for the future. They have plans for the future."
"A speaker here mentioned that we have challenges ahead. As a political worker, I believe we have many difficult challenges ahead. We have various differences of opinion. So that we can talk and discuss our various differences, at any cost, we must maintain the democratic process, which we will begin Inshallah from the February 12,” he added.
Emphasizing that the democratic process must be maintained at any cost, the BNP Chairman said, "The practice of democracy and accountability must continue. Elections must be held everywhere, from the national level to local governments or trade bodies. If the democratic process continues uninterrupted, solving the country's problems is possible."
He further said, "A speaker here talked about water. I spoke with him a few days ago. I presented more issues before him. Since returning to the country, whenever I had the opportunity to go out, I went to Savar. I visited a few other places as well. I felt that the new generation is seeking guidance. The new generation wants to have hopes, not just rhetorics. I feel that every generation seems to be seeking guidance," Taerique Rahman said.
The BNP Chairman said, "We who are in politics perhaps have many expectations placed upon us. Perhaps not all expectations can be fulfilled. But if we the politicians, keeping 1971, 1990, and August 5, 2024, all before us, can work for the country's independence and sovereignty. I firmly believe, as a political worker, that we will be able to lead the nation in the right direction."
On the topic of reforms, Tarique Rahman said there are three parts-constitutional, legal, and people's daily life and security. He said, "We have discussed constitutional and legal reforms a lot. But there has been some fundamental issues like people's daily lives, security, healthcare, employment, and children's education."
If given the responsibility of governing the country to BNP in future, the Chairman vowed to solve people's daily problems as politics should not remain confined only to seminars and symposiums.
Alongside constitutional and legal reforms, we must think more about fundamental issues like people's education, health, security, and employment.
At this time, Tarique Rahman discussed in detail BNP's plans for governing the country in the future. Specifically, he shared his thoughts on women's development, the Family Card, Farmer Card, expatriate welfare, water resource management, and reforms in the health and education sectors. He said from January 22, they will go before the people with all our plans.
The BNP Chairman said, "If we can form a government with the people's mandate in the upcoming elections, initiatives will be taken to make women economically self-reliant.”
“There are about four crore families in Bangladesh. We will introduce a Family Card. Through this card, women from each family will receive assistance from the state. This will be made universal,” he added.
Tarique Rahman noted that just as Martin Luther King who spoke of a dream, BNP also has a dream or plan. Half of the country's populations are women; development is impossible leaving them behind. Begum Khaleda Zia ensured arrangements for women's education; now BNP wants to ensure their economic emancipation.
Highlighting the condition of the country's farmers, Tarique Rahman said, "The number of farmers who own land and are directly involved in farming is around one crore. The previous BNP government took various steps for farmers. In the future, we will introduce Krisak Card for farmers' assistance. Through this, subsidies on fertilizer, seeds, and agricultural inputs, along with various other benefits, will be ensured."
Emphasizing the principle 'Prevention is better than cure' to bring healthcare to people's doorsteps, Tarique Rahman shared that healthcare workers will be appointed in Bangladesh like in European countries.
He further added, "We are planning to appoint one lakh healthcare workers. Among them, 80 to 85 percent will be women. They will go door-to-door to make people aware about health, advice on nutritious food and lifestyle. At the same time, they will also play a role in population control. Our resources are limited, so it is essential to keep the population at a reasonable level."
Emphasizing skill development for expatriate workers, Tarique Rahman said, currently about 8-10 lakh people go abroad every year, a large portion of whom are unskilled. If they can be sent imparting with language and technical training, remittance earnings will increase significantly.
BNP chief said, we will modernize vocational and technical institutes. Language and skill training for workers will be provided according to the market demands of the Middle East, Japan, Europe, and even China. This will increase remittance flow and strengthen the country's economy. Additionally, he shared plans to introduce special bond facilities for expatriate entrepreneurs.
Outlining BNP's plans for youth employment and IT sector development, Tarique Rahman said, utilizing the country's IT parks, small office spaces and free WiFi facilities will be provided for young entrepreneurs.
He said, “Many work from homes. If they can be given a business address or space, they can work on a larger scale. Furthermore, regarding the problems of international payment gateways like PayPal for freelancers bringing their earnings to the country, we have already started working on solutions.” He also mentioned that this will increase the income of content creators.
The BNP Chairman further said, "We are only holding seminars-symposiums or debates on political issues, which are certainly necessary. But at the same time, political parties should discuss more about people's daily needs, and requirements. Our plans and programmes on these issues need to be more specific."
Expecting constructive criticism from journalists, Tarique Rahman said, "Inshallah, if we can form a government with the support of the country's people, we hope to receive from you the kind of discussions-criticism that will help us move the country forward. Not just criticism for the sake of criticism, we hope to receive from you such criticism that enables us to solve the problems that the people of the country have."
Earlier, the event began at 11:20 AM with recitation from the Holy Quran by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Before that, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman exchanged greetings and pleasantries with the attending journalists.
Later, in his welcome address, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “Today, in a difficult time, our leader Tarique Rahman has returned home from abroad. The dream of building this country that he showed us from a far has made the entire nation much more hopeful today. Their expectation is that, after many years, under Tarique Rahman's leadership, we will be able to build Bangladesh as a liberal democratic state.”
Among the editors present at the event were Shafiq Rehman of Jai Jai Din, Mahfuz Anam of The Daily Star, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury of Manab Zamin, A.M.M. Bahauddin of Daily Inqilab, Mahmudur Rahman of Amar Desh, Nurul Kabir of New Age, Abdul Hai Shikdar of Jugantar, Altamash Kabir of Sangbad, Shamsul Haque Zahid of Financial Express, Shahed Mohammad Ali of Daily Samakal, Inam Ahmed of The Business Standard, Hasan Hafiz of Kaler Kantho, Abu Taher of Bangladesh Pratidin, Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel of Protidiner Bangladesh, Kamal Uddin Sabuj of Desh Rupantar, Salah Uddin Babar of Naya Diganta, Hanif Mahmud of Bonik Barta, Md. Rezaul Karim of Daily Sun, Shamsul Alam Litun of Surma (London), Santosh Sharma of Kalbela, Kamrul Hasan of Ajker Patrika, Mostafa Kamal of Khoborer Kagoj, Shahidul Islam of Manobkantha, Saleh Biplob of Desh Barta, Mokarram Hossain of New Nation, among others.
Also present were Masumur Rahman Khalili of Naya Diganta, Sazzad Sharif of Prothom Alo, Syed Shahnaz Karim of Somoyer Alo, Khurshid Alam of Janakantha, Rashedul Haque of Bangla Bazar Patrika, Enam Abedin of Jugantor, Ilias Khan of Time of Bangladesh, Nazrul Islam of Amader Somoy, Suman Pramanik of Daily Nagarik Sangbad, Editor Shahin Raja of Dikpal, Hasnain Khorshid of Nagarik Pratidin, among others.
Taufiq Imrose Khalidi, Editor-in-Chief of bdnews24.com; Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Chairman Anwar Al Din and Managing Director and Chief Editor Mahbub Morshed; Enayet Ullah Khan, Editor-in-Chief of UNB, and Editor Mahfuzur Rahman; Tawhidul Islam Mintu, Editor of Banglanews24.com; Ifthekhar Mahmud, Editor of Dhaka Stream; Harun Jamil, Editor of Dhaka Mail; Zafar Subhan, Editor of Dhaka Tribune; Kamrul Islam, Acting Editor of Dhaka Post were also present.
From international media, Mir Sabir Mostafa, of BBC; Special Correspondent Kader Kallol; Tanvir Chowdhury of Al Jazeera; Ruma Paul and From broadcast media, Mahbub Alam, Director General of Bangladesh Television; General Manager Nurul Jam Paban; Z.M. Zahedur Rahman, Director General of Bangladesh Betar.
Among top executives of private TV channels were Zubayer Ahmed of Somoy TV; Shykh Seraj of Channel i; Abdul Hai Siddiqui of Bangla Vision; Fakhrul Alam Kanchan and Mostafa Khondokar of NTV; Abdus Salam of Ekattor TV (ETV?); Fahim Ahmed of Jamuna TV; Lotun Ekram of DBC; Shafiq Ahmed of Ekattor TV; Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran of ATN; Ziaul Kabir Sumon of Boishakhi TV; Shariful Islam Khan of News24; Mahmud Hasan of Green TV; Gausul Azam Deepu of Gazi TV; Shahidul Azam of ATN News; Rezanul Haque Raja of Maasranga; Zahirul Alam of Channel 24; Ilias Hossain of RTV; M.A. Malek of Mohona TV; Waliur Rahman Miraj of Star TV; Tushar Abdullah of Ekhan; Mostafa Akmal of Independent; Yusuf Ali of MyTV, among others attended the programme.
Besides, Kader Ghani Chowdhury, Secretary General of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, and senior journalists Mostafa Kamal Majumdar, Abdul Awal Thakur, M.A. Aziz, Nur Uddin Nuru, A.K.M. Mohsin, Shahedul Islam Chowdhury, Khaja Main Uddin, Zahedul Islam Roni, Hafizur Rahman, Gias Uddin Ripon, Hafizur Rahman Sarker, among others, along with senior journalists from various newspapers. attended.
BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed; Vice Chairman Asaduzzaman Ripon; Member of the Chairperson's Advisory Council Abdus Salam; Chairperson's Advisor Mahadi Amin; Media Cell members Atiqur Rahman Rumn, Shammi Akhtar, Shayrul Kabir Khan, Abu Sayem; BNP's Syemum Parvez, Shamsuddin Didar; Chairperson's Personal Secretary A.B.M. Abdus Sattar; and the Chairperson's Chief Security Officer, retired Brigadier General A.K.M. Shamsul Islam.
The event was conducted by the Media Cell Convener Prof Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel and the Chairman's Press Secretary Saleh Shibli. Editors and senior journalists delivered speeches at the event.
