BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has reaffirmed his party’s firm commitment to ensuring food security and protecting the dignity of farmers, describing them as “the backbone of the nation” who deserve to be equal partners in Bangladesh’s progress.In a message posted on his verified Facebook page on the occasion of World Food Day, Tarique said,
“On World Food Day, we renew our solemn commitment to the people who feed our nation — our farmers. Bangladesh was built by their hands, nourished by their sacrifice, and strengthened by their resilience.”
Citing examples “from the fertile fields of Bogura to the floating gardens of Barishal,” he said that every grain of rice carries the story of farmers’ endurance and the country’s collective future.
The BNP leader stressed that true food security must be built through partnership among the government, farmers, entrepreneurs, and communities, working together to create a sustainable food system.
Recalling the legacy of President Ziaur Rahman, he said the late leader took charge of a nation “in the shadow of famine and despair” and recognised that independence meant little without food security. “Under his leadership, Bangladesh moved from dependence to dignity, expanding irrigation, restoring canals, and introducing multiple cropping to feed a nation that once knew famine,” Tarique noted.
He added that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia carried that legacy forward through policies that empowered farmers with fertiliser subsidies, rural electrification, and “Food-for-Work” programmes that revitalised the countryside and helped eliminate hunger.
“This is the foundation on which we now stand. Today, as Bangladesh faces rising food prices, water stress, and climate threats, we must continue to build on that foundation — not only for our own people but also for those seeking safety and sustenance within our borders,” Tarique said.
Highlighting the country’s humanitarian role, he pointed out that Bangladesh is hosting over 1.15 million Rohingya refugees, while international aid cuts have left families surviving on barely six dollars of food support per month.
He called for urgent, collective action from governments, international agencies, donor nations, and private partners to restore food assistance and strengthen livelihoods. “This stark reality reminds us of the growing food insecurity happening around the world — in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, and even at our own doorsteps,” he said, adding that Bangladesh’s food vision must be “as humane as it is innovative.”
Outlining BNP’s vision for a fair and sustainable food system, Tarique Rahman announced a series of initiatives aimed at empowering farmers, modernising agriculture, and promoting environmental sustainability.
He said the BNP plans to launch a ‘Farmers’ Card Initiative’ to provide farmers with secure digital identities, enabling direct access to subsidies, fair pricing, credit, crop insurance, and government procurement — eliminating middlemen and ensuring transparency.
On climate-resilient agriculture, Tarique said the party aims to restore 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals, reintroduce community irrigation systems, and construct modern Teesta and Ganga barrages to ensure water security.
He also pledged to expand ‘Alternate Wetting and Drying’ rice farming, a method that conserves water, reduces emissions, and could earn Bangladesh millions in carbon credits.
To promote nutrition and women’s empowerment, the BNP will implement ‘Family Card’ and ‘Health for All’ programmes. “Women, recognised as heads of households, will be empowered as leaders of food and nutrition security, strengthening both their economic participation and family well-being,” he said.
Tarique further announced plans to create over 1.3 million new jobs in agriculture and food processing sectors, from cold storage logistics to export-oriented food industries. The goal, he said, is to reduce food loss through modern storage systems so that “farmers earn more and consumers waste less.”
He emphasised that BNP will also support youth engagement in agricultural entrepreneurship through mechanisation, drone technology, and start-up funding — bringing a new generation into modern farming.
To address environmental challenges, the BNP leader unveiled a ‘Circular Economy’ plan to turn waste into productivity. “A nationwide circular economy model will tackle plastic, e-waste, and agricultural waste through recycling hubs, waste-to-energy plants, and rural biogas systems,” he said.
He also pledged to modernise agricultural research, extension, and training, ensuring quality seeds, innovation, and technology reach farmers directly.
Concluding his message, Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh can lead by example in a world facing hunger and uncertainty:“Food security, sustainability, and dignity for farmers are not distant goals — they are achievable realities. Bangladesh’s strength has always been in the hands that till its soil. BNP will empower those same hands to shape the nation’s future.”