Staff Correspondent:
If BNP comes to power, free education programs will be further expanded in the country and completely free education for girls up to postgraduate level will be ensured, said Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman.
She said this at a discussion meeting and tea party on women, education, health and services at the capital’s Gulshan Society Lake Park on Sunday (February 8, 2026). The meeting was organized by the Ladies of Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, DOH and Niketan.
Speaking as the chief guest at the event, Zubaida Rahman said that the development of the country is never complete without the active participation of women. She said, “Women constitute 51 percent of the total population of the country. Their contribution is essential in building the country. At this critical juncture, we all have to play an effective role in the education, health and employment of women from our respective positions.”
Highlighting the current situation in the health sector, she said, “Many mothers still lose their lives prematurely during childbirth due to lack of medical care. BNP’s plan is to ensure safe delivery facilities in health complexes in every upazila and pay special attention to complete healthcare for mothers and children.”
Expressing concern about the safety and working environment of women, Zubaida Rahman said that working women and students are constantly subjected to various types of harassment. Many women are unable to move around normally due to insecurity. Especially, night travel for women working in the garment sector is still risky.
She said that if the BNP is able to form a government, six months of paid maternity leave will be ensured. In addition, initiatives will be taken to provide safe housing, transportation facilities and establish day-care centers at workplaces so that working mothers can work safely.
In an emotional speech about elderly women, Zubaida Rahman said, “The incident of an elderly mother being chained and left at the gate of an old age home by her family members has shaken us all. If BNP comes to power, the Parents’ Maintenance Act will be strictly implemented.”
Highlighting BNP’s plans for overall support for women, she said that a women’s support cell will be formed, initiatives will be taken to provide financial support and skill development to women entrepreneurs, and women’s employment in the informal economy will be increased. She said, “Sustainable solutions to these problems are possible only through well-planned political initiatives.”
The speakers participating in the discussion meeting highlighted various problems of the environment, traffic congestion, and transportation sectors in the area. In this regard, Zubaida Rahman said that specific and realistic solutions to these problems have been included in the BNP’s election manifesto.
Independence Award-winning scientist Professor Hasina Khan, architect and pilot Captain Yasmin, and Executive Director of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr. also spoke at the meeting. Fahmida Khatun and Professor Naila Zaman, General Secretary of Bangladesh Protibandhi Foundation.
In addition, entrepreneur Shayla Rahman from Gulshan Society, star chef Alpana Habib, female entrepreneur and social activist Zebun Nahar Moin from Banani Society, Najma Islam from Baridhara Society, Sarjana Sultana from Niketan Society, Simin M Akhtar from Puratan DOHS, Nazneen Akbar Haque from Mohakhali DOHS, Syeda Shahria Samad from Cantonment Area and Farida Yasmin from Baridhara DOHS spoke.
