Bangladesh deprived over last 15 years, says BNP chief Tarique Rahman

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said that not only Bogura district but the entire country has been deprived over the past 15 years.

He made the remarks while addressing an election rally at the Altafunnessa playground in Bogura early Friday.

Criticising the previous government, Tarique said industries and factories were not allowed to develop properly over the last 15 to 16 years. He claimed that instead of sustainable development, the focus remained on so-called “mega projects.”

“Only mega projects were promoted, and in the name of these projects, mega corruption took place,” he said.

Tarique urged party leaders, activists and citizens to remain vigilant in the coming days and stressed the need to take strong action against corruption. “We must curb corruption. Only then can the country move forward,” he added.

The BNP chief also called on voters in Bogura to take the upcoming 13th parliamentary election seriously, saying the polls would determine whether an accountable government could be formed.

At the rally, Tarique sought votes for himself and other BNP candidates across the district. He is contesting the Bogura-6 constituency and is also running for the Dhaka-17 seat.

After nearly 19 years, Tarique returned to his ancestral hometown of Bogura, where a large number of party leaders and supporters gathered for the rally.

“If Allah wills and we form the government, it will not be enough to think only about our own area,” he said. “We must think about the entire country, not just our district.”