BNP Chairman and Dhaka-17 constituency candidate with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol, Tarique Rahman, has pledged that if BNP comes to power, permanent buildings will be constructed for those currently living in makeshift houses in the Korail slum of the capital, and residents will be provided with apartments there. Addressing the slum dwellers, he said, “You are suffering, facing hardships in living. We want to gradually solve these problems. By the grace of Allah, we want to build tall, large buildings here and register small apartments in the names of the people living here, and hand over those flats to them.”

He made these remarks in a brief speech at a doa (prayer) gathering held on Tuesday afternoon at the Mohakhali T&T Colony field, organized to seek prayers for the salvation of the late former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

Before entering the electoral race, Tarique Rahman sought prayers from the residents of Korail in his constituency, Dhaka-17. He said many of them grew up in this area, and so did he. “I am a son of this area,” he said. “Earlier I lived in the cantonment. You all more or less know how, during the time of autocracy, the house where we lived since independence was demolished and reduced to rubble. Even then, I am still a son of this area. Earlier I lived in the cantonment, now in Gulshan—closer to you, right beside you. So I am your own son.”

He added, “Inshallah, I can tell you this much— as long as I live, as long as Allah’s mercy is upon me, I was by your side, I am by your side, and Inshallah I will remain by your side. In your times of hardship, as much as I can, to the best of my ability, I will stand for the people of Korail and by the people of this area.”

Tarique Rahman said, “Before the prayers begin, I want to say a few words. I am the son of martyred President Ziaur Rahman; many elders here have seen him. I am the son of national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, and I am a worker of my party. Today I am present at a prayer gathering. Since we do politics—whom is this politics for? It is for ordinary people like you. Making your daily lives a little better is our job, our goal, our objective. So I ask for your prayers and Allah’s mercy.”

Referring to the remarks made by some Korail residents, he said, “Today is a doa mahfil. Let us pray to Allah. If Allah grants us the ability, Inshallah we will succeed in any task. Thousands of mothers and sisters are sitting here today. Across the country, mothers and sisters are living in hardship. If Allah grants us the ability, we want to introduce a ‘Family Card’ for mothers and sisters so that they benefit, and a ‘Farmer Card’ for farmers. If Allah grants us the ability and if it is written in your destiny, we will be able to do these things.”

Speaking about education for the next generation, Tarique Rahman said, “You live here in Korail; you have children, and I have children too. Our future is today’s children. We want that just as children living in buildings get educational facilities, the children of those living in the Korail slum also get the same opportunities—access to education, sports, learning foreign languages, and healthcare. By Allah’s mercy, we want to make those arrangements for you.”

He said BNP does politics for the people. “Whenever BNP has governed the state, we have tried, to the best of our ability, to keep the promises we made to the people.” He added, “I don’t know whether this will fall under the election code of conduct or whether anyone will conspire, but with Allah’s mercy I want to say this: if you all pray for me, and if Allah grants me the opportunity, I want to do a few things here.”

He reiterated the plan to gradually resolve housing hardships by constructing high-rise buildings and registering apartments in the names of long-term residents so that they have a permanent place to live in Dhaka. He said everything depends on the people’s prayers. He also announced plans to establish two schools and a playground for children in the Korail slum, along with healthcare facilities.

“To accomplish these tasks, you must pray,” he said. “Seek Allah’s mercy. If Allah helps us, Inshallah we will be able to implement every one of these initiatives.”

BNP Chairman’s wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, was also present at the doa mahfil. The event was conducted by BNP Chairman’s chief election agent Abdus Salam and attended by BNP Chairman’s adviser Professor Farhad Halim Doner, Nazim Uddin Alam, BNP Sports Affairs Secretary and Dhaka North BNP Convener Aminul Haque, convener of ‘Amra BNP Paribar’ Atiqur Rahman Rumon, Women’s Wing General Secretary Sultana Ahmed, among others.

Tarique Rahman further said, “You are the people of this area, and I am also from this area. Just as you grew up here, I also grew up here. Dear brothers and sisters, if we remain united, we can solve these problems together—whether it is law and order, roads, or education. If anyone has caused you suffering or oppression, we will take punitive action against them. No one will be able to forcibly collect electricity, water, or gas bills from you anymore. You will pay only what the meter shows.”

Later that night, Tarique Rahman also attended another doa mahfil at Banani’s Chairman Bari in memory of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. He is scheduled to begin his formal election campaign on Thursday by visiting the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) in Sylhet.