PM Tarique Rahman Calls for 'New Battle' to Implement Election Pledges

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday urged his party leaders and activists to engage in a "new battle" to fulfill the promises outlined in the party’s election manifesto. 

Addressing a views-exchange meeting with district-level leaders of the BNP and its three associate bodies at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium, he emphasized that his government cannot succeed without the total support of the party’s grassroots. 

"One battle has ended, now another battle has begun. That battle is to implement the commitments we made to people," the Prime Minister stated during the closed-door session that began at 10:45 am.

Tarique Rahman reaffirmed that the BNP is committed to ensuring good governance, creating a healthy educational environment for students, and guaranteeing the safety of every man, woman, and child. 

Highlighting a shift in the nation's governance, he remarked, "We told people that we want to build a country where no one will face repression, enforced disappearances or killings for political reasons. We want a political culture where there will be debates and discussions but no oppression." 

He further explained that while the manifesto was a party document before the February 12 election, it has now become the manifesto of the people and the government, noting that "Fifty-two percent of the people who voted gave their verdict in favour of this manifesto. We must make our highest efforts to implement everything we have promised in this manifesto."

The Prime Minister underscored the necessity of internal cooperation for the administration’s success, telling the gathered leaders, "We call it a BNP government. But if BNP does not cooperate, in many cases the government will not be able to succeed." 

He cautioned that the government’s ability to reach its desired goals rests entirely on the party’s leadership standing firmly behind it, adding, "That is why the cooperation of all the leaders present here is needed."

This meeting marked the first formal exchange between the Prime Minister and the party’s grassroots since the 13th parliamentary election held earlier this year. 

The session was attended by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as a special guest and chaired by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. 

Other senior leaders in attendance included Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Selima Rahman and AZM Zahid Hossain. 

According to Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the meeting served as a platform to present the government’s future plans and discuss ongoing organizational activities alongside the implementation of the election manifesto.