Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday urged party leaders and activists, including those from Juba Dal, to emerge as true leaders by earning trust and confidence of the people.
鈥楿phold the trust of people. Remember, if people accept you, you鈥檙e a leader. If they reject you, you are not,鈥� he said while virtually addressing a discussion arranged by Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal, the youth wing of the BNP, in Dhaka.
The discussion, titled 鈥楢nti-Fascist Movement and My Unspoken Words鈥�, was held聽 at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the anniversary of the 2024 July-August Mass Uprising.
Tarique called upon all pro-BNP forces, regardless of whether they belong to Juba Dal, Chhatra Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Mohila Dal or the party鈥檚 lawyers鈥� forum, to reach out to people with BNP鈥檚 programmes and vision.
鈥楢ll our political programmes are designed for the welfare of the general people..... if you believe in the ideology of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman and have accepted Khaleda Zia as your leader, it鈥檚 your responsibility to raise these visions before the people because the public verdict matters most,鈥� he said.
鈥榃e need the support of people. We need the cooperation of the people to implement these plans designed for the people,鈥� said the BNP leader.
Focusing on the role of Juba Dal during anti-fascism movement, Tarique said even amid brutal crackdowns by the fascist regime, Juba Dal did not back off or leave the streets. As many as 78 leaders and activists of Juba Dal sacrificed their lives alone during the July-August Mass Uprising.
鈥業t was possible because people stood by you, because they trusted you. So, keep up this public trust in you,鈥� he said.
Outlining his party鈥檚 future plans, Tarique pledged initiatives in employment, healthcare and environmental sustainability, if BNP is elected to power.
He said international language courses would be introduced for unemployed youth and school students to enhance prospects for overseas employment.
Primary healthcare services would be ensured, with a plan to employ 80 pc of primary healthcare workers from women, he added.
鈥業f elected, our goal is to plant around 30 to 32 crore trees over the next five years,鈥� said Tarique Rahman.
A video documentary highlighting the 2024 mass uprising and anti-government movements during the Sheikh Hasina regime was also screened at the event,
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and its standing committee member Mirza Abbas, among others, spoke at the event presided over by Juba Dal president Abdul Monayem Munna.