BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has put forth more than 50 location-specific commitments during his campaigning in 20 districts over the last 10 days. These promises cover various areas such as job creation, social welfare, healthcare, and the enhancement of infrastructure and agriculture.
Between January 22 and 31, Rahman engaged with the public through 23 election rallies. He assured the populace of job opportunities through the expansion of industries, with plans to increase the number of EPZs in Chattogram and establish new ones in Feni and Cumilla to attract young voters.
During his visit to Gazipur, Rahman pledged the establishment of new industries, including garment factories, and proposed the creation of industrial parks in Sirajganj and Pabna if BNP secures power.
Political analysts noted that while these location-specific commitments are geared towards garnering votes, the lack of a clear framework, roadmap, funding sources, and implementation strategies could hinder the fulfillment of these promises.
In Rajshahi, Rahman committed to providing special assistance for setting up agriculture-based mills in Rajshahi, Rangpur, and the northern region. He also promised tax exemptions for IT companies to boost employment.
Furthermore, he outlined plans for export-oriented production, including fish fry from Mymensingh, handloom products from Sirajganj and Pabna, Tangail sarees and caps, and pineapple juice from Tangail.
In the healthcare sector, the BNP chief proposed the construction of medical colleges in Narsingdi and Feni, along with expanding the Hatiya upazila hospital to accommodate 150 beds. Additionally, he assured an increase in hospital bed capacity in Naogaon and the establishment of four district hospitals in Mymensingh division.
Rahman also highlighted plans to build a hospital in Uttara and a specialized medical facility in Rajshahi to eliminate the need for patients to seek treatment abroad.
On the welfare front, he pledged support for female workers in tea gardens in Moulvibazar and the rehabilitation of slum dwellers in Bhasantek. Rahman also promised low-cost housing solutions for worker accommodation issues and the establishment of government-run day-care centers for the children of female workers in Gazipur.
In Rangpur, Rahman proposed government repayment of microloans taken from registered NGOs and the waiver of farmers’ agricultural loans up to Tk 10,000 with interest. He also mentioned the allocation of Khas land to landless individuals in Hatiya.
Regarding infrastructure and transportation, Rahman revealed plans to construct an overpass over the Joydebpur rail crossing in Gazipur for smoother traffic flow, enhance a railway line in Naogaon to support agricultural product transport, and elevate Jahajmara union in Hatiya to an upazila.
Other initiatives include the construction of block embankments in Hatiya to combat river erosion, the re-excavation of canals in Gazipur for improved water flow, and dredging the Padma river in Rajshahi while expediting work on the Padma barrage.
Rahman also proposed an embankment on the Jamuna river in Tangail to enhance waterway transport, initiatives to combat narcotics trade in several regions, and measures to address waterlogging in Uttara while developing Nijhum Dwip as a modern tourist hub.
In addition to the area-specific commitments, the BNP outlined an eight-sector plan to be executed if elected, covering initiatives such as family and farmer cards, healthcare workforce appointments, providing tablets to teachers, establishing vocational institutes, granting honorariums and festival allowances to religious leaders, and canal excavation projects.
Analysts emphasized the importance of presenting a comprehensive roadmap before making promises to mitigate public skepticism regarding implementation. Mohammad Mojibur Rahman from Dhaka University stressed the need for clear objectives, timelines, implementation strategies, responsible entities, and funding sources for effective execution.
Former Jahangirnagar University professor Al Masud Hasanuzzaman highlighted the necessity of proper financing to fulfill infrastructure commitments, emphasizing that past instances of unfulfilled promises raise doubts about future pledges.
