News Flash
JASHORE, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman today said politics should not be about blaming others; rather, it must be about improving people’s lives.
“Politics of blaming will not fill people’s stomachs. We don’t want to confine politics only to slogans, songs, processions, and meetings. Politics must be practiced for the welfare of people. That is why we want to do the kind of work that will put food on people’s tables and ensure they live well,” he said.
Tarique Rahman made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest on virtual platform at a ceremony marking the handover of a promised new semi-pucca house to Afia—a child born with unusually fair skin due to albinism—and her mother Monira Khatun, in Bazua Danga village of Jashore Sadar upazila.
The handover ceremony was held at Afia’s new home where BNP central committee Vice Chairman Professor Nargis Begum, Khulna divisional organizing secretary Anindya Islam Amit, and leaders of the Jashore district and Manirampur upazila BNP were present.
Soon after Afia’s birth with extremely fair skin, her father, out of suspicion, divorced her mother and went abroad.
Since then, Afia’s mother had been living in extreme hardship with the child. When the matter went viral on social media, it came to the attention of Tarique Rahman while he was in London.
From there, Tarique Rahman instructed Anindya Islam Amit, the BNP central committee’s Khulna divisional organizing secretary, to stand by Afia and make arrangements for their accommodation. Accordingly, a semi-pucca house was built for Afia and her mother in their village.
In his speech, the BNP chairman said explained in detail how BNP would take the country and its people forward if the party is voted to power through the next general election.
He highlighted various plans, including the introduction of family cards, farmer cards, ensuring healthcare services for rural people, and providing honorariums for mosque imams, khatibs, and muezzins, as well as religious leaders of other faiths.
“If we can form a government with the people’s mandate, we want to stand by all destitute rural families like Afia’s mother. That is why we have talked about family cards,” he said.
Tarique Rahman said, “Most people in the country live in villages, and most of them are directly or indirectly involved in agriculture. If farmers are well off and receive fair prices for their produce, the country as a whole will prosper. Therefore, to increase production and ensure farmers’ well-being, we have pledged to undertake a farmer card project.”
Referring to the canal excavation programme during the time of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, he said, “At that time, agricultural production increased significantly through this programme. But later, when it was discontinued, agricultural production has been hampered due to water shortages.”
He announced that the canal excavation programme would be restarted.
Explaining plans for the healthcare system, Tarique Rahman said millions of rural people in the country are deprived of minimum healthcare services. To address this, one hundred thousand health workers will be recruited with proper training, through whom healthcare facilities will be delivered door to door in remote villages, he added.
During Begum Khaleda Zia’s government, women’s education expanded across the country, said BNP chairman.
“We must make that educated female population self-reliant. Without empowering half of the country’s population, it will not be possible to move the country forward rapidly,” he said.
