The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has secured a decisive two-thirds majority in Bangladesh’s general election, a result expected to restore political stability after months of unrest following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Led by Tarique Rahman son of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman the party is returning to power after two decades. Rahman is widely expected to be sworn in as prime minister.
Below are the BNP’s key priorities outlined in its manifesto, framed by the slogan “Bangladesh Before All.”
Governance and Constitutional Reform
The BNP has pledged to implement the “July Charter,” a reform blueprint aimed at restructuring state institutions. Central to this plan is the creation of new constitutional bodies and the introduction of a bicameral parliament, alongside broader political reforms agreed upon by major parties.
Trade and Industrial Revival
The party plans to revive shuttered industries and diversify exports to reduce dependence on a narrow manufacturing base. It also promises to ensure that legally operating foreign companies can repatriate profits within 30 days, a measure intended to improve investor confidence.
Employment and Workforce Development
A cornerstone of BNP’s agenda is job creation, including nearly one million new positions in the information and communication technology sector. The party aims to align wages with inflation through price-indexed adjustments reviewed every two years. It also proposes expanding technical and language training for youth while ensuring merit-based recruitment in government employment.
Economic Modernisation
The BNP intends to introduce international payment systems, establish regional e-commerce hubs, and promote a “Make in Bangladesh” initiative to strengthen domestic manufacturing. It also plans to launch a “Family Card” program to help low-income households purchase essential commodities each month.
Healthcare Expansion
The manifesto calls for gradually increasing public health spending to 5% of GDP. Plans include recruiting 100,000 healthcare workers and expanding preventive care programmes to improve nationwide health outcomes.
Social Development and Education
The party proposes a nationwide mid-day meal programme for students and a new education policy focused on skills and values. It also aims to improve sports infrastructure and create training-based welfare programmes for religious leaders of all faiths at places of worship.
With information from Reuters.
