BNP on Wednesday announced an ambitious economic action plan outlining the steps it intends to take during its first 180 days in office if voted back to power in the next general election.
At a press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury presented a summary of the proposed economic action plan.
“A transparent, participatory, and innovative economic strategy is needed to restore economic stability, earn public trust, and lay a strong foundation for the future. The time has come to move beyond outdated conventions and make bold, visionary decisions to open up a horizon of hope, confidence, and national rebuilding,” he said.
The BNP leader noted that in many countries, political parties outline what they plan to achieve in the first 100 days after coming to power.
As a party committed to empowering the people, he said BNP wants to introduce such a realistic political culture in Bangladesh.
“Our goals and strategies for the first 180 days (six months) after forming a government through a public mandate will be set before the election. Based on this 180-day plan, an action-oriented roadmap will be formulated. We want to clearly outline the specific steps the BNP will take across various sectors,” Khasru said.
At the press conference, BNP outlined 11 priority sectors—education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, recognition of martyrs, agriculture and rural development, industry, information and communication technology, expatriate welfare, urban management, environmental governance, and law and order—to focus on during the 180-day period.
Job creation
Khasru announced that job creation is their party’s top priority, pledging one crore new jobs if BNP is voted to power.
Citing past success in labour-intensive industries and overseas employment, he said BNP wants to boost domestic production by 8% and has identified 10 key sectors for job creation, including infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, ICT, freelancing, services, green energy, health, education, and SMEs.
Prioritizing education
Khasru said BNP plans to enhance the economic benefits and social status of primary school teachers by bringing them under specialized training programs.
He also announced BNP’s plans to form an expert committee comprising local and expatriate academics, professionals, and experts.
“To make education more practical, BNP plans to introduce short-term trade courses—such as plumbing, electrical work, mechanics, dental hygiene, and medical technology—under government management. Effective steps will also be taken to promote apprenticeships, internships, and industry-academia collaboration,” the BNP leader said.
Additionally, seed funding or innovation grants will be offered at the district level to commercialise innovative business ideas through a competitive process in colleges and universities.
Improving health services
Khasru said their party will prioritize disease prevention through expanded vaccination programmes, health education, and awareness campaigns.
He said BNP aims to promote healthy lifestyles, sanitation, and nutrition awareness among the public, alongside launching specialized training schemes for doctors and health workers.
“To ensure safe drinking water, modern purification systems will be installed, and reservoirs for rainwater collection will gradually be constructed nationwide,” the BNP leader said.
Introducing "Family Cards"
Khasru said their party plans to issue "Family Cards" to 5 million poor rural families, primarily in women’s names, providing monthly financial or food aid.
He said they will prioritize women’s safety with strict punishments for offenders, establish dedicated support cells at the union level, and offer low-interest loans to women for small and medium enterprises to boost self-reliance.
Recognizing martyrs
Khasru said BNP will prepare lists of martyrs from the July uprising and the 16-year anti-fascist movement, naming government institutions after them in their respective areas.
“The families of martyrs will receive state recognition and financial support. Those injured, who lost eyes or were maimed in pro-democracy movements, will also be acknowledged and provided with job assistance,” he said.
"Farmers’ Cards"
Khasru said their party will also launch "Farmers’ Cards" containing land and crop data. “The state will take the initiative to purchase produce directly from farmers at the union level based on fair prices, and the work of building cold storages will begin nationwide.”
He said the agricultural sector will be developed into an export-oriented one by creating opportunities for processing agricultural products and improving quality.
A local database will support targeted policies, while strict action will be taken against market syndicates to control prices. Large-scale canal excavation will also be undertaken across the country.
“The data of farmers’ land and the amount of crops produced will be used to formulate targeted policy support. Strict and visible steps will be taken against extortion, middlemen, and syndicates left behind by fascism to control commodity prices in the market. Canal digging activities will be started on a large scale across the country,” he said.
Targeting $1 trillion economy
Khasru said their party wants to raise the FDI-to-GDP ratio from 0.45% to 2.5% as part of its roadmap to reach a $1 trillion GDP by 2034.
“BNP’s aim is to set a GDP target of $1 trillion by 2034. The burden of additional taxes will be controlled to reduce pressure on the people,” he said.
To boost industrial growth, Khasru said the BNP plans to adopt investor-friendly policies to attract both domestic and foreign investment. “Priority will be given to projects that generate large-scale employment. A ‘One-Stop Service’ will be implemented to streamline processes such as company registration and banking support.”
He said they also want to promote agriculture, fisheries, and other production-oriented sectors. “A list of closed state-run mills—such as jute, textile, and sugar mills—will be prepared, with visible efforts taken to reopen them.”
To ensure safer urban travel, Khasru said BNP will introduce women-only buses with female drivers and assistants on selected Dhaka routes.
“Traffic reforms will include AI-controlled traffic lights, strict law enforcement, public awareness, and lane-based vehicle planning—guided by both local and international experts.”
He also promised a zero-tolerance policy against crimes like rape, mugging, and robbery, aiming to end the culture of impunity. “Police professionalism will be enhanced through training, motivation, and improved monitoring.”
Khasru said the party also plans to plant 250–300 million trees over five years, promote eco-friendly practices, and increase open green spaces.
To boost private sector growth, he said BNP also plans regulatory reforms, SME/start-up financing, and the promotion of innovation and infrastructure.
The BNP leader also said they will modernize fiscal and debt management systems, improve tax transparency, and enact budgetary reforms to ensure accountability and public participation.
