Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday said the government will introduce LPG cards for women alongside the existing family card programme to ease their cooking-related hardship.
“Our mothers and sisters face difficulty every day. They have to struggle daily in managing food for the family. They also have to cook, and for that they need gas or firewood. This creates problems,” he said while addressing a public rally at the Jashore Central Eidgah Ground arranged by the district BNP.
Considering this hardship, the Prime Minister said the government took a plan two days ago to introduce LPG cards for women.
“We have taken a plan that, Inshallah, just like we have provided family cards for mothers, we will also provide LPG cards across Bangladesh so that they do not have to suffer in cooking and can prepare meals without worry. Gradually, we will implement this plan as well,” he said.
Tarique Rahman said his party believes in public mandate and works for the welfare of the people. “BNP believes people are the source of all power. That is why we complete unfinished work for the benefit of the people.”
He said he made several development commitments during the election campaign, including economic empowerment of women.
“Half of Bangladesh’s population is women. If they remain behind, the country cannot move forward. That is why we want to make women economically self-reliant,” the Prime Minister said.
He said the family card programme has already started as a pilot project, and hundreds of families have already received family cards. “Gradually, it will reach lakhs, and then crores of families across the country.”
Tarique Rahman also referred to previous initiatives by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, saying she had made girls’ education free up to the school level and later up to the intermediate level.
He announced that the government now plans to expand free education for girls up to the degree level.
“We have decided that girls’ education will be made free up to degree level. We will also provide stipends for those who achieve good results,” the Prime Minister said.
He said the goal is to build an educated and capable generation for national progress.
Tarique Rahman, also the Chairman of BNP, highlighted support measures for farmers, including farmers’ cards, canal excavation and loan relief.
“We have waived loans of up to Tk 10,000, including interest, across the country. Around 12 lakh farmers will benefit from this facility,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the government is working to strengthen both rural families and farmers through various support programmes.
“Just as we want to stand beside our mothers and sisters through family cards, we also want to stand beside farmers so they can become economically stronger,” he added.