BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday outlined a series of urban, governance and education reforms, saying his party would develop satellite cities outside Dhaka to ease the capital’s chronic traffic congestion caused by over-centralization of roads, public transport and employment.
“Road design, transport systems and jobs are centred around Dhaka,” Tarique said, adding that planned satellite towns beyond the capital would help disperse pressure and improve mobility.
He made the remarks at a meet-and-greet event with 10 winners of a national reels-making competition at Justice Shahabuddin Park in Gulshan, where he spoke about what he described as a roadmap for building a “new Bangladesh.” BNP Chairman’s Adviser Dr Mahdi Amin, Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibli and Tarique’s daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman, were present.
Referring to ongoing transport initiatives, Tarique said flyovers have been constructed and metro rail services introduced, but noted that metro systems are costly and require significant space. He suggested that monorail networks, with smaller carriages, could be developed and connected across Dhaka alongside the metro.
On governance, he criticized existing welfare schemes as fragmented and said they should be brought under a single platform through a family card system. Weak transport infrastructure, he added, contributes to higher commodity prices, underscoring the need to improve logistics while also providing incentives to farmers. Ensuring security and curbing corruption were essential to stabilising broader economic challenges, he said.
Turning to education, the BNP chairman said learning must be simplified and made enjoyable. Proposed reforms include integrating sports—passing in which would be mandatory—alongside academics, as well as greater emphasis on arts and culture to reduce excessive internet use. Separate inter-ministerial teams would be formed to implement the plans, he added.
On overseas employment, Tarique said many young Bangladeshis go abroad without adequate skills and fail to receive proper recognition. Skill development programmes are being planned, he said, alongside incentives for expatriates who send remittances through formal channels.