Dr Zubaida Rahman, the wife of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman, has called on citizens from all walks of life to work together to build a state grounded in equality, knowledge and respect for labour.
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting in Dhaka on Saturday, Zubaida Rahman said the country stood at what she described as a critical moment, urging people to place national interest and public welfare above political power.
“A new sense of pride stands before us,” she told the gathering. “The country must come before all else, the people before power. To build a state based on equality, knowledge and the dignity of labour, collective effort is essential.”
The event, organised by the Professionals’ Wing of the BNP’s Election Management Committee, was held at the Hatirjheel Amphitheatre and drew participants from a wide range of professions, including workers, academics and transport employees.
Zubaida Rahman said she had listened closely to accounts from several women at the meeting, including garment workers and residents of the Korail area, as well as a transport worker. She described their testimonies as a reflection of the daily struggles faced by ordinary Bangladeshis.
She reiterated that ensuring equality and equal opportunity across social and professional divides remains central to the BNP’s political vision. According to Zubaida Rahman, the party advocates merit-based employment, fair access to rights and a justice system that protects people from exploitation.
“Respect for labour and proper evaluation of merit are fundamental,” she said, adding that long-standing problems could only be addressed through careful planning and unity across society.
She also appealed for solidarity, noting that while citizens face diverse challenges, sustainable solutions require cooperation rather than division.
The meeting was chaired by Forhad Halim Doner, coordinator of the Dhaka-17 Election Management Committee and an adviser to the BNP chairman. Other speakers included BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan and Abdus Salam, a senior adviser to the party and chief coordinator of the Dhaka-17 committee.
The remarks come as Bangladesh’s opposition parties continue to outline their policy priorities and social vision ahead of future political contests, with issues of equality, employment and economic justice remaining at the centre of public debate.
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