Tarique Rahman, the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), said their (his party) commitment is to advancing the rights and empowerment of girls and women in the country, as their vision is one where every girl of this country has the same freedom, opportunity, and safety that any parent would wish for their own child. 

“We do not speak in empty rhetoric. We speak from conviction, backed by legacy and intention. For every girl who dreams, we will make the state her partner, not her obstacle,” he said in a post on his verified Facebook page marking the International Day of the Girl Child on Saturday. 

“Let’s celebrate every girl’s right to dream, to learn, to lead, to live in dignity. As a father to a daughter, I know that empowering girls is not just policy – it’s personal. Our vision for Bangladesh is one where every girl has the same freedom, opportunity, and safety that any parent would wish for their own child,” he also said. 

“We saw how President Ziaur Rahman drove the growth of the garment sector to become more than an industry; it became hope. Millions of women entered formal work, gaining income, respect, and independence. Under his stewardship, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs was created with the singular purpose of institutionalising the betterment of the lives of girls and women across Bangladesh,” he said, recalling the contributions of former President Ziaur Rahman. 

Under Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s leadership, education for girls became a right, not a privilege, he added.

“Education was declared free up to Grade 10, and the ‘Food for Education, Cash for Education’ programmes kept millions of girls in school, shifting family destinies, building stronger communities, creating a generation of empowered women,” he said.

“Her pioneering ‘Female Secondary School Assistance Project’ achieved gender parity for the first time in secondary schools in our history and reduced child marriages, going on to become a global model for girls’ education and empowerment, replicated in other developing countries,” he added.

“These show bold steps that proved what’s possible when governance honours the dignity of girls and invests in their future, the BNP Acting Chairman said.

Tarique outlined BNP’s proposed six policies for girls and women: 

1) “Family Cards” in the name of women heads of households to ensure direct aid and support.

2) SME loans and business training for women entrepreneurs to secure financial independence.

3) Stronger academic and vocational opportunities for girls in both rural and urban areas.

4) Increased participation of women in politics and policymaking.

5) Protection of dignity and freedom, including the right to move, speak, and access the internet safely.

6) Family and social welfare reforms focusing on women’s health, empowerment, and employment.