It is possible to attain wealth, positions, titles, or political power through politics, but the love and trust of the people cannot be bought with money. Over the course of his long political career, BNP Standing Committee Member Goweshwar Chandra Roy has earned the affection and respect of many people. Because of his longstanding loyalty, sacrifice, and commitment to his party and country, he is regarded by BNP leaders and activists as a dedicated and committed politician.

Goweshwar Chandra Roy’s political and activist journey began with a strong sense of patriotism. During the Liberation War of Bangladesh, he took part in the war at great personal risk, driven by his commitment to the country’s independence. His political journey did not end with independence. He remained actively involved in issues concerning the rights of the people, democracy, and political freedom. A significant part of his political career has been closely associated with nationalist politics in Bangladesh.

Roy has been involved in the politics of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for many years, from the political leadership of the party’s founder, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, to former BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and the party’s current Chairman, Tarique Rahman. His long-standing loyalty to the party’s principles, ideals, and democratic movements has made him one of the senior and experienced leaders of the BNP.

Goweshwar Chandra Roy has been seen as an active frontline leader during various political movements and struggles organized by the BNP. He has faced harassment, attacks, and political repression on several occasions while participating in movements for the restoration of democracy and against authoritarian rule. In particular, an incident in which he was publicly assaulted on the streets of Dhaka became widely discussed across the country. The assault on a veteran politician in broad daylight generated strong reactions in political circles. Despite such adversity, however, these incidents did not diminish his political determination or commitment.

Despite his age and the many challenges he has faced, Goweshwar Chandra Roy has remained active in politics. According to his supporters, his political career has not been limited to party activities; he has also maintained close ties with ordinary people in his constituency, sharing in their joys and difficulties. His willingness to listen to people, stand beside them in times of crisis, and provide assistance within his means has contributed to his reputation at the local level as a people-oriented and compassionate leader.

One of the notable aspects of his political outlook is patience and consistency. His long career demonstrates the sacrifice, resilience, and organizational skills required to remain active in politics over an extended period. His longtime political colleagues believe that, rather than placing primary importance on positions or political titles, he has given greater importance to political principles and his relationship with the people.

The experience of veteran political leaders represents an important asset in Bangladesh’s political landscape. From that perspective, Goweshwar Chandra Roy’s extensive political experience holds particular significance for the BNP’s organizational and political activities. He has witnessed and participated in many chapters of the country’s political history, including periods of political movements, struggles, adversity, and major political change.

Overall, Goweshwar Chandra Roy’s political life cannot be assessed solely through the lens of political positions or titles. From his participation in the Liberation War to his long involvement in democratic movements and his commitment to standing beside ordinary people, the defining features of his political journey have been sacrifice, struggle, and a deep connection with the people. According to his supporters, that bond of affection and trust is the greatest achievement of his long political career.

In politics, many seek to establish their identity through publicity, public statements, and constant visibility. Yet there are individuals who prefer to work quietly and earn the trust and affection of the people through their actions. Yaser Khan Chowdhury, a familiar figure in BNP politics, is regarded by his supporters as one of them. Giving greater importance to work than publicity, remaining committed to his responsibilities, and maintaining a sincere relationship with ordinary people are among the defining characteristics of his political journey.

One of the most noticeable aspects of Yaser Khan Chowdhury’s political activities is his calm and composed style of leadership. He seeks to coordinate party responsibilities, political programmes, and official duties while maintaining a structured daily schedule. According to people close to him, even amid a demanding workload, he does not shy away from his responsibilities; rather, he places considerable emphasis on completing assigned tasks on time.

His interactions with party activists and ordinary citizens are also marked by warmth and sincerity. He is known for greeting visitors with his characteristic smile, listening attentively to their concerns, and trying to stand beside them whenever possible. His tendency to keep his personal struggles and difficulties private while continuing to serve people with a smile has earned him a distinct place in the eyes of many of his supporters.

His supporters also maintain that his efforts to stand beside neglected, underprivileged, and vulnerable people have helped him earn affection and goodwill at the local level. His communication with people from different sections of society, together with regular coordination with party activists, has contributed to strengthening his political engagement. His loyalty to the party’s senior leadership and respect for organisational decisions are also regarded as important aspects of his political identity.

Responsibility and patience appear to be central to Yaser Khan Chowdhury’s approach to politics. Rather than reacting impulsively or emotionally, he is described by those around him as someone who prefers to assess situations calmly and make decisions with a cool head. For this reason, a section of the party’s younger activists considers him a source of inspiration. Because of his determination and courage in the political arena, some supporters compare him to a powerful racehorse—relentless, fearless, and uncompromising in the face of challenges.

However, assessing a political figure requires more than considering personal popularity. His activities, organisational role, public engagement, and contributions to the people should also be viewed in the context of time and circumstances. In Yaser Khan Chowdhury’s case, his future political role will ultimately be measured by the consistency of his work, the confidence of party activists, and the extent of his connection with ordinary citizens.

Overall, Yaser Khan Chowdhury appears to prefer building his political identity through action rather than through loud rhetoric or excessive publicity. His sincerity toward people, commitment to responsibilities, organisational coordination, and loyalty to his party constitute important elements of his political profile. As he continues his journey quietly, it remains to be seen how far his political role and public engagement will expand in the future.

Questions are growing among grassroots activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over why many leaders who endured years of street protests, arrests, harassment and political repression during the party’s difficult years are now being left out of key organisational and state positions.

At the same time, the appointment of several individuals who were either not visibly active in BNP’s long-standing street movement or came from other political platforms to important positions in the party and government has further fuelled discontent among sections of the grassroots, according to party activists and their supporters.

The current positions of veteran BNP leaders such as Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Zainul Abdin Faruk, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Habib un nabi khan, Saiful Islam Nirob, former Home Minister Lutfozzaman Babar and lawyer Mahbub Uddin Khokon have become subjects of discussion within the party.

Their supporters argue that these leaders played visible roles during BNP’s most difficult periods, but many of them have not received the organisational or government responsibilities they had expected after the party’s political fortunes improved.

Saiful Islam Nirob’s role in Dhaka politics is particularly cited by his supporters as an example. They say Nirob remained active in rallies, processions and street demonstrations in Dhaka during the Awami League government, mobilising large numbers of activists despite facing cases, arrests, attacks and political repression.

His supporters also claim that he retained a substantial grassroots following in his constituency. Yet, instead of receiving the party nomination, a candidate from an allied political group was nominated. The result, in which the candidate failed to secure the expected outcome, has since prompted renewed discussion over the decision.

The change in nomination in the Jashore-1 constituency involving Mofiqul Islam Tripti has also become a contentious issue among BNP’s grassroots activists. According to a section of party workers, the decision to withdraw his nomination just 20 days before the election created disappointment among local activists.

They argue that Tripti had a long record of political activism and maintained a significant support base in the constituency. Some of his supporters believe that removing him from the electoral race affected the party’s prospects in the constituency.

Lawyer Mahbub Uddin Khokon is another veteran figure whose name has emerged in discussions over the issue. Having remained active for years in BNP’s legal wing and in the court arena, Khokon’s supporters had expected him to receive an important state responsibility. However, those expectations were not fulfilled when another individual was appointed to head the Ministry of Law.

Meanwhile, the appointment of several political figures associated with different political platforms, including Rashed Khan, Jonaed Saki, Nurul Haque Nur and Zahid Hasan, to important government responsibilities has raised questions among sections of BNP’s grassroots.

Critics are asking why individuals who joined the broader political equation relatively recently are receiving significant responsibilities while many leaders who stood by BNP during its prolonged period of political adversity remain outside key positions.

However, there may be several political and administrative considerations behind the leadership’s decisions, including coalition arrangements, political strategy, administrative requirements and electoral calculations. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to attribute every such decision solely to personal loyalty or political favouritism.

Nevertheless, the failure to adequately recognise veteran leaders could create frustration among their supporters and weaken morale at the grassroots level.

Recent events surrounding the mausoleum of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman have also generated discussion on social media. Supporters of some long-serving BNP leaders have expressed resentment over their perceived absence or limited access during events attended by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. Supporters of Saiful Islam Nirob have also spoken about an emotional incident involving the veteran leader.

Grassroots activists fear that political parties may have no shortage of supporters during good times, but when difficult times return, they will once again need the leaders who have already demonstrated their commitment on the streets.

The experience of political movements shows that dedicated and tested activists often become a party’s greatest strength during periods of adversity. Therefore, party insiders believe BNP needs to recognise the contributions of its veteran leaders, make better use of their experience and address the frustration among their supporters.

Ultimately, the BNP’s high command is in the best position to explain why certain leaders have been denied organisational positions, why some candidates were removed from electoral contests, and why relatively new political figures have been given important responsibilities.

But if the growing frustration at the grassroots is left unaddressed, it could eventually emerge as a significant organisational challenge for the BNP.

The government has undertaken several initiatives to improve the country’s health sector. In the 2026–27 fiscal year budget, a record Tk 69,401 crore has been allocated to health, raising the sector’s allocation to more than 1 percent of GDP, or approximately 1.02 percent. However, no major visible progress has been observed in the sector over the past six months. Government officials and sector experts, however, argue that six months is not sufficient time to deliver the expected results from such large-scale reforms.

An analysis of the commitments made in the election manifesto of the BNP-led government and the current situation shows that, although a large budget allocation and several administrative initiatives have been introduced, ordinary citizens have yet to experience any significant improvement in the overall quality of healthcare.

Nevertheless, some policy and administrative measures taken during the government’s initial period are in line with its election pledges. The health sector’s budget allocation has been increased this fiscal year to more than 1 percent of GDP. In addition, 192 healthcare facilities have been transferred from the Ministry of Local Government to the Ministry of Health. The government has also approved an Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) project aimed at expanding primary healthcare services in urban areas.

The government’s response to the sudden measles outbreak can be considered one of its more visible successes. Its efforts to quickly procure vaccines and contain the outbreak have been noticeable. However, the government cannot entirely avoid responsibility for the deaths of more than 900 children from measles.

The government has also announced plans to recruit 100,000 healthcare workers and 5,000 new doctors, while work is reportedly underway to develop the design of an e-health card. After assuming office, the government also began work on five 200-bed specialised children’s hospitals in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi and Cumilla. Initiatives have also been taken to increase hospital capacity across the country. Recently, at a public gathering, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman announced plans to upgrade all 503 upazila health complexes to 151-bed facilities.

However, beyond large budget allocations and infrastructure-related announcements, there remains a significant gap in structural and institutional reform.

Economist Professor Dr Rumana Haque said that the government has yet to fully meet the enormous expectations that people had when it assumed office. Although transforming the health system is a time-consuming process, she said a more effective roadmap was needed for measures that could have been implemented quickly.

Rumana Haque further said that while announcements have been made regarding infrastructure development and hospital construction, there is still a lack of clarity regarding investment in grassroots and primary healthcare, as well as transparency and proper planning for the recruitment of 100,000 workers. She also noted that there is still no clear direction regarding the new development budget or how the allocated funds will be utilised.

Public health expert Dr Mushtaq Hossain said the government’s initiatives largely consist of fragmented routine activities and a list of aspirations. He argued that the first priority should be the establishment of an independent health commission, which would formulate a comprehensive reform plan and monitor its implementation and progress.

Asked whether he was satisfied with the government’s performance during its first six months, Health Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said, “We are working. There is no question of being satisfied or dissatisfied at this stage.”

Considering the government’s election manifesto and its major budgetary commitments, its first six months in the health sector can be described as a period of planning and preparation. The government has demonstrated its intentions and made some progress through increased budget allocations, administrative transfers and the creation of posts. However, ordinary people have yet to see any major improvement in the quality of healthcare or experience substantial benefits from these initiatives.