Reiterating that the country’s people are the source of all power for the BNP, Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday declared that the party will continue working for the nation and its citizens for as long as its leaders remain alive.

“People are the source of all power for the BNP. The support of the people is our strength. Therefore, as long as we live, we will continue working for this country and its people,” the Premier said.

He made these remarks while addressing a brief rally this morning after formalizing the launch of the historic ‘Patli Khal’ (canal) re-excavation project at Pmkhali Union in Sadar Upazila, an event deeply connected to the legacy of his father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.

Stating that the BNP always pursues people-oriented and welfare-focused politics, the Prime Minister highlighted the market's response to the recently proposed fiscal framework.

“I have seen in the newspapers, Alhamdulillah, that no prices of essential commodities have increased so far after the announcement of budget this year. Because, the government removed taxes on 60 products in the budget announced two days ago. The products include rice, lentils, edible oil, salt and other daily necessities, so that prices do not rise. The objective is simple: to ensure that people can live well,” he continued.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury had placed the proposed national budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year in the Jatiya Sangsad.

Lashing out at the opposition for criticizing the economic plan, the BNP Chairman alleged that they are trying to trigger national unrest. “The opposition says they do not accept this budget and call it anti-people,” Tarique Rahman noted.

“I want to leave a question to you. The opposition party cannot not accept the budget that reduces taxes...They also do not like the budget that increases the prices of alcohol and cigarettes. Can you now understand the opposition party’s intention? Their [opposition party’s] target is not to stand beside the people. Their objective is to create instability and unrest in the country and to mislead the public,” he added.

Turning his attention to local development, the Prime Minister recalled the historical significance of the Patli canal.

Originally excavated 48 years ago in November 1979 by the then President Ziaur Rahman—who famously used a spade and planted a date palm tree that still stands today—the canal has now become part of a larger national vision.

“This canal was excavated 50 years ago by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. The re-excavation of this canal now will benefit 40,000 people. About 8,500 farmers will also be benefited. For this reason, we will excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across the country in the next 5 years,” the Prime Minister announced.

Acknowledging Bangladesh's agrarian foundation, the Premier stressed that agricultural advancement must walk hand-in-hand with industrial growth to secure the future of the youth.

“But alongside agriculture, we must develop industry and commerce. If industries and businesses grow, employment opportunities will be created for our children. They will be able to find jobs and engage in business. Therefore, we have increased taxes on imported goods that compete with products already manufactured in Bangladesh. This is to support local producers and industries. Yet this, too, is not acceptable to the opposition party,” Tarique Rahman said.

Delivering a strong message on governance, he emphasized that the nation belongs exclusively to its citizens, “I want to say that you are the owners of this country. The ownership of the country does not belong to any political party. The ownership of the country does not belong to any family. The true owners of the country are the 20 crore people of Bangladesh.”

The Premier asserted that the BNP government's ultimate mission is to alter the socioeconomic destiny of the population. “We work to change the fate of this country and its people as Bangladesh is the BNP’s first and last destinations,” he stated.

Concluding his address with a passionate call for collective nation-building, he remarked, “This country belongs to all of us. This country is our first and last destinations. Therefore, we say, if we build this country, we ourselves will live better lives, and our children will live in peace. If we fail to build this country, our children will suffer. Does anyone want their children to suffer? None of us do. That is why we say: Korbo Kaj Gorbo Desh, Sobar Agee Bangladesh (We will work, we will build the nation, Bangladesh comes first).”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Cox's Bazar from Dhaka by air. Despite braving heavy, incessant rain, he traveled from the airport to Pmkhali by road, formally launching the 8-kilometer project by cutting soil with a spade and planting a fresh date palm sapling on the canal bank.

The rally was chaired by Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila BNP President Abdul Mabud. Other prominent figures who addressed the crowd included Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, Lawmaker from the Cox’s Bazar-3 Lutfur Rahman Kajal and local BNP leader Harunur Rashid.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and Land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam, and lawmaker from Chattogram-10 constituency Sayeed Al Noman were also present to witness the event alongside thousands of local villagers.