The Tamesis
April 15, 2026
Dhaka – Prime Minister Tariq Rehman today urged everyone to join hands in building a “Beautiful Bangladesh”, stressing the importance of collective national efforts.
Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of the Farmers Card at the Shaheed Maruf Stadium in Tangail, he outlined the government’s vision for national security, prosperity and self-reliance.
The farmers’ cards in the first phase of the rollout are being issued to about 21,000 landless, marginal and small farmers in 11 upazilas in 10 districts.
The initiative aims to make farmers self-reliant and prosperous, the prime minister said, adding that the government will gradually issue the card to 2.75 billion farmers over the next five years.
Tariq stressed that the government has fulfilled its election promise by waiving agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000, benefiting 1.2 million farmers.
“If we look at all the comments, we will find that in Bangladesh, whenever the BNP gets a chance to run the country, the BNP tries to side with the farmers. You trusted the BNP in the last elections. This government will fully respect that trust,” he said.
He also announced plans to dig 20,000 kilometers of canals over five years to improve irrigation, manage flooding and restore groundwater levels depleted by the long-term use of deep tubewells.
The Prime Minister said the government will support farmers in agricultural regions, including the Northern Region, by promoting agricultural industry development and addressing business constraints, increasing investment, processing and exports, helping farmers obtain better prices, and increasing foreign exchange inflows into the country.
He stressed the importance of women’s empowerment, noting that a family card pilot project for female heads of households had begun.
He said the government aimed to stand with farmers, women, imams, religious leaders, students and professionals from all walks of life.
“Our goal is the development of the country. Our goal is to change the destiny of the people. That is why we say that we will work, we will build the country, starting with Bangladesh,” the prime minister declared.
