With only six days remaining until the national polls on 12 February, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has formalised its bid for power with a targeted nine-point pledge aimed at “marginalised and aspirational” citizens. The manifesto, launched by Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday afternoon, positions these promises as the foundation of a “new social contract” to transition the nation from its recent political volatility toward a stable, welfare-orientated democracy.
Under the banner of “Bangladesh First”, the manifesto seeks to address the acute economic anxieties of the post-uprising era, particularly focusing on food security, youth unemployment, and digital sovereignty.
Nine Key Pledges
The BNP has committed to nine priority initiatives that Tarique Rahman vowed would be implemented immediately if the party is entrusted with a mandate:
Family Card: To shield low-income households from inflation, the party will provide a monthly stipend of 2,500 BDT or essential commodities of equal value. To promote female empowerment, these cards will be issued specifically to the female head of each household.
Farmer Card: This initiative aims to guarantee fair prices for agricultural produce through state-managed marketing. It includes subsidies, easy-access loans, and the introduction of agricultural insurance for farmers, fishermen, and livestock owners.
Healthcare Overhaul: A pledge to recruit 100,000 new healthcare workers nationwide, alongside the expansion of maternal and child health programmes and the modernisation of district-level hospitals.
Employment-Orientated Education: The formulation of a skills-based education policy, including the introduction of “mid-day meals” in primary schools and technological support for both teachers and students.
Youth and Startup Support: A commitment to create mass employment and enhance technical skills. The party plans to support entrepreneurs through merit-based recruitment in civil service and integration with global e-commerce.
Sports as a Livelihood: The expansion of sports infrastructure and training at the upazila (sub-district) level to transform athletics into a viable professional career path.
Environmental Resilience: A massive ecological undertaking to excavate 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals and plant 250 million trees within five years to combat climate change.
Religious and Social Harmony: The introduction of a welfare system providing honorariums and training for religious leaders of all faiths to reinforce social cohesion.
Global Digital Connectivity: The official launch of international payment systems, specifically PayPal, to allow Bangladeshi freelancers and businesses to compete in the global digital economy.
Tarique Rahman, leading the party’s campaign for the first time in his career, emphasised a shift from “consumption-driven to investment-driven growth”. The manifesto outlines an ambitious goal to grow the economy to $1 trillion by 2034, targeting a foreign direct investment (FDI) rate of 2.5 per cent of GDP.
The manifesto also confirms the party’s “zero-tolerance” stance on corruption, promising to recover laundered funds and reform the banking sector through a dedicated Economic Reform Commission. In a nod to the recent “July Uprising”, the BNP also pledged to establish a Truth and Healing Commission to provide restorative justice for the victims of past political violence.
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