BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has unveiled parts of his party’s economic and foreign policy vision, pledging to transform Bangladesh into a global supply hub for e-commerce giants such as Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba, while pursuing what he described as a “Bangladesh before all” policy in regional diplomacy.
In an interview published by the Financial Times on Monnday (October 6), Tarique said Bangladesh must move beyond its heavy reliance on garment exports and diversify into technology-driven supply chain and logistics services to capture emerging global market opportunities.
“Bangladesh has the workforce, the geographic advantage, and the entrepreneurial energy to serve as a supply base for global e-commerce platforms,” he said, adding that digital infrastructure and logistics reform would be key priorities under a future BNP-led government.
Tarique, who has been living in the United Kingdom since 2008, confirmed that he intends to return to Bangladesh to contest the upcoming national election, expressing strong confidence in the BNP’s chances.
“We are confident we will win,” he said. “We believe we are in a position to form the government on our own.”
The BNP chief also said the student-led July uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government last year would remain incomplete until Bangladesh holds a free and credible election.
According to the FT, the next administration will inherit a fragile economy—strained by U.S. tariffs on garments and a tense relationship with India, where Hasina is now in exile.
Tarique said he aims to reset Bangladesh’s ties with New Delhi on an equal footing, ending what he called a “one-sided relationship” under the Awami League. “We will have a ‘Bangladesh before all’ policy,” he told the paper.
He also indicated openness to working with new political movements, including groups formed by students who led last year’s uprising. “They are young, they have a future, and we will welcome them into politics,” he said.
Tarique rejected corruption allegations against him as politically motivated, claiming the BNP has expelled or disciplined over 7,000 members for wrongdoing since August 2024. He vowed that a new government under his leadership would continue current efforts to recover billions of dollars allegedly laundered abroad by allies of the previous regime.
Asked about the Awami League’s political future, Tarique was cautious: “If they are convicted as criminals, how can they contest the election?”
While critics recall Transparency International’s ranking of Bangladesh as the world’s most corrupt country during BNP’s previous tenure, Tarique defended his party’s record, noting it had established the Anti-Corruption Commission. He dismissed past allegations as “false narratives” amplified by local media, claiming all charges against him have since been dropped.
If elected, Tarique said his administration would prioritise economic diversification, institutional reform, and regional cooperation, aiming to position Bangladesh as a competitive and responsible player in the global economy.
