Desk Report:
Tarique Rahman has become a true companion of the marginalized people of Bangladesh. For decades, a vast section of the country’s underprivileged population has endured neglect and hardship.
Except during election periods that come once every five years, these people are rarely given attention. Yet it is this majority population that works tirelessly to cultivate crops, sustain the nation, and enrich our lives. In the 55 years since independence, very few leaders have gone directly to the grassroots level to listen to their struggles and concerns.
After a long wait, however, hope has begun to return to the faces of these neglected communities. They have found in Bangladesh’s current Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, a genuine ally and trusted friend.
As the heir to a political legacy, he has embraced the rural-focused political philosophy of the late President Ziaur Rahman and taken it to the field. The contribution of the poor and marginalized people during the Liberation War of 1971 was immense. They risked their lives in pursuit of dignity, rights, and freedom. Following independence, it was President Ziaur Rahman who first offered them a ray of hope. Breaking away from the capital-centric drawing-room politics of the time, he traveled from Teknaf to Tetulia, meeting ordinary people across the country and speaking directly with those living on the margins of society.
President Ziaur Rahman was among the first to recognize that the true strength of Bangladesh lies in its villages. He therefore shifted the focus of politics from the cities to the countryside. During his tenure from 1977 to 1981, he promoted the vision of a self-reliant Bangladesh through the effective utilization of domestic resources. By launching nationwide canal excavation programs, including projects such as the Patli Canal excavation, he helped spark a transformation in the rural economy. Through rural development initiatives, increased food production, and the concept of local self-governance, he sought to empower grassroots communities. Following his untimely death, many marginalized people felt they had lost their most trusted advocate and once again slipped into a period of neglect.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Tarique Rahman has continued to work toward grassroots empowerment. More than four decades later, he has emerged as a trusted figure for marginalized communities, much like his father before him.
Long before reaching the highest levels of leadership, Tarique Rahman introduced a new dimension to politics through grassroots conferences organized at district and upazila levels between 2002 and 2006. He moved beyond air-conditioned political chambers and engaged directly with farmers and local communities, giving importance to local leadership and grassroots participation.
Later, when BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in 2018, Tarique Rahman took charge of the party despite being abroad and operating under challenging circumstances. Using modern communication technologies such as Skype and Zoom, he maintained close contact with party members. Rather than relying solely on senior leaders, he placed significant importance on the opinions of grassroots activists. Many observers believe that BNP’s resilience and organizational strength during years of political adversity were largely built upon his grassroots-oriented and forward-looking political approach.
Amid his responsibilities in government and parliament, Tarique Rahman continues to visit remote and underserved regions whenever possible. From Teknaf to Tetulia, and from Cox’s Bazar to Thakurgaon, he listens to the concerns of ordinary citizens and seeks immediate solutions to their problems.
He firmly believes that, “If the villages thrive, Bangladesh will thrive. The development of marginalized people is the true measure of national development.”
After more than four decades, grassroots communities feel they have once again found a sincere friend and supporter. This renewed connection is bringing fresh hope to Bangladesh’s political landscape and development journey.
