Graft fight, people's safety to get priority if BNP comes to power: Tarique

CHATTOGRAM, Jan 25 (BSS): BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has stated that if BNP comes to power, the party's top priority would be curbing corruption and ensuring people's safety.

"BNP has a good track record of effectively addressing corruption issue in the past while in power and always protect the interest of the people," he said in a mammoth public rally at Railway Pologround on Sunday morning.

In the second leg of his electioneering outside the capital Tarique Rahman arrived in the port city on the day.

He alleged that Awami League government during its 1996 to 2001 tenure had plunged the country into the corruption hole while BNP forming government under the leadership of Khaleda Zia from 2001, the country gradually had been rescued from corruption.

Mentioning that BNP governments in the past had not spared even own partymen if anybody found involved in corruption and illegal activities, Tarique Rahman said.

He warned that those who disrupt law and order or try to impede the anti-corruption initiatives in the future will not be kept untouched also.

"Law will go on its own course. Everybody is equal to the law and nobody above the law. Whoever involve in corruption, legal action will be applicable similarly for all irrespective of identity," said BNP Chairman while announcing his party's tough stand on good governance and rule of law as well as fight against corruption in the future.

He said BNP is considering safety and security of people as key issues so that they can move safely and run their business and jobs without any obstacles.

Tarique Rahman also confidently hoped that with the support of the people, BNP will be able to improve law and order in the country.

"Two crucial issue-Public safety and corruption- are the key factors that deprived people from expected benefits for years. Begumn Khaleda Zia had dealt both the issues successfully and we again giving commitment to countrymen to address those issues effectively if people are with BNP," he said.

UNB adds: BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman earlier on Sunday said that BNP has a plan to introduce student loan facilities to support those students who want to go abroad for higher education.

"Many students face financial difficulties while pursuing higher education abroad. BNP is planning to introduce student loan facilities to support them," he said while talking at a programme titled 'Youth Policy Talk' at a hotel in the port city.

Tarique attended the views-exchange meeting with young people where some 450 university students joined the programme. "If promises are made but efforts are not made to implement them, the public loses trust in political parties," Tarique said.

The BNP chairman also answered various questions raised by the students on education, employment, governance and development.

Referring to the law and order situation and corruption, Tarique said no development plan will succeed if the law enforcement system is not strengthened and corruption cannot be curbed.

Pointing out that extortion has spread across various levels of the society, the BNP leader said that if the government maintains a zero-tolerance policy against corruption, these crimes will be significantly reduced.

Replying to a question from a student of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) on vocational skills, Tarique said in the next 5-10 years, the global demand for certain vocational jobs will be identified and included in the curriculum.

Besides, sending skilled manpower through proper training and language education could ensure higher-quality workforce exports, he added.

Talking about the health sector, Tarique said building hospitals alone is not a sustainable solution. BNP wants to create health awareness at the grassroots level by appointing healthcare workers for community-based services, he mentioned.

He also spoke about improving the education system by bringing schools under audio-visual connectivity, which would enable students across the country to benefit from lessons delivered by best teachers.

Modern devices would also be provided to train teachers, he added.