Fast-track loans for overseas jobseekers, no need to sell land: Tarique Rahman

BNP chairman Tarique Rahman has outlined a series of plans to turn young people into skilled manpower and tackle unemployment, saying modern training centres will be set up nationwide and fast-track bank loans will be arranged for those seeking work abroad so they do not have to sell land.

He made the remarks on Monday, February 9, at an election rally in Banani, Dhaka.

Tarique Rahman said modern training centres across the country would provide proper skills so young people can secure decent jobs at home and abroad, become self-reliant and help reduce unemployment.

Highlighting the hardships faced by migrant workers, he said many people struggle to arrange money before going overseas and are often forced to sell homesteads or land, which puts families at serious risk.

To address this, he said the government would arrange quick bank loans for overseas jobseekers so they do not have to sell property. The loans would cover migration costs and could be repaid later from earnings abroad.

He said public expectations around the election are high and BNP has tried to present plans in line with those expectations, adding that all promises would be implemented if the party comes to power. He also said women would be made self-reliant through a family card programme.

Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh would prosper if farmers prosper, adding that farmers would be made financially self-reliant through a farmer card. He reiterated plans to skill young people through training to create employment at home and overseas.

He further said 100,000 health workers would be recruited nationwide to take healthcare to the grassroots, and dignified allowances would be introduced for mosque imams and muezzins. “We want to build a Bangladesh where people can live safely,” he said, adding that collective effort can solve the country’s problems.

Claiming BNP has the most experience in governing among political parties, he said a safe country must be built for future generations and alleged that mega projects in the past were accompanied by mega corruption. “There is much to do; the state must be rebuilt,” he said.

Referring to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, he said she did not leave the country despite persecution, and asserted that BNP is the only party with a clear plan to rebuild the nation. He concluded by seeking votes for the sheaf of paddy, saying rebuilding the country is BNP’s sole objective and commitment.