By Mahbub Hasan Tutul, DHAKA, Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson, Tarique Rahman, on Tuesday pledged to tackle the country’s unemployment challenge through job creation if elected in the 2026 general elections.
Rahman made the pledge while addressing a campaign rally at the Circuit House ground in Mymensingh, where he said the BNP possesses the experience required to govern effectively and remains committed to people-oriented politics.
“There is no alternative to voting for the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ if the nation’s problems are to be resolved,” Rahman said, referring to the party’s electoral symbol.
He also criticised a rival political group, accusing it of adopting what he described as the rhetoric of a “fugitive autocracy” and spreading misinformation regarding corruption. According to him, sustainable national development cannot be achieved without empowering women, who make up nearly half of the population.
Rahman highlighted the BNP’s proposed family card initiative as part of its plan to promote social inclusion and economic participation.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rahman left his Gulshan residence at 11:05 a.m. for Mymensingh to attend the rally, a BNP Media Cell member, Shairul Kabir Khan, confirmed.
A large stage measuring 64 feet by 44 feet was erected for the event, featuring a central LED screen and banners bearing the slogans “I Have a Plan” and “Bangladesh First.” The rally marked Rahman’s first visit to Mymensingh in 22 years.
Security at the venue was heightened, with law enforcement agencies deployed and surveillance maintained through 20 closed-circuit television cameras.
According to party sources, Rahman last visited
Mymensingh in 2004 during a representative conference. His return generated widespread attention, with posters and banners displayed across the city to welcome him.
After returning to Dhaka, Rahman addressed two additional campaign rallies later in the day—one at Rajbari Field in Gazipur at 6 p.m. and another at Azampur Eidgah Field in Uttara at 7 p.m.