BNP’s 180-Day Digital Drive: Tech, Trade, and Transformation
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced that if elected to power, it will launch a 180-day action plan aimed at establishing offices of global tech giants such as Facebook, Google, and YouTube in Bangladesh, alongside a host of technology-oriented reforms and development initiatives.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, June 4, during a press conference at the BNP Chairperson's political office. Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a member of the party's Standing Committee, shared a summary of the proposed plan, which will be published in detail after Eid.
Although the event was originally convened to offer the party’s formal response to the national budget, Khasru used the opportunity to outline BNP’s roadmap for action should it assume power.
The plan includes the introduction of technical trade courses at the primary level, initiatives to cultivate entrepreneurs directly from campuses, and the extensive use of digital technology in agriculture. Special technical training programs for healthcare workers and region-specific agricultural databases are also on the agenda.
Khasru said, "We will introduce multilingual education at the primary level and initiate various short-term technical trade courses under government management. Social status and special training programs for primary teachers will also be prioritized."
He added that competitive seed funding and innovation grants will be introduced to commercialize innovative business ideas at district-level colleges. The party aims to invigorate the rural economy, expand cottage industries, enhance skill development through training, create new employment opportunities, and strengthen manpower exports using advanced digital tools.
A "Farmer’s Card" will be introduced containing detailed information about land ownership and crop output. This will facilitate targeted policy support to individual farmers based on data-driven assessments.
Addressing plans for the ICT sector, Khasru stated that under BNP governance, a nationwide initiative will be undertaken to establish production facilities, digital platforms, and training programs to boost small and medium-sized enterprises. "Our goal is to turn them into globally recognized suppliers, capable of selling products worldwide," he said.
Urban planning reforms were also highlighted, including AI-powered traffic signal systems, strict enforcement of traffic laws, public awareness campaigns, and lane-based vehicle planning, all guided by both local and international experts.
The action plan also proposes the introduction of PayPal and other online payment systems in Bangladesh to support freelancers and the e-commerce sector. Furthermore, the party will initiate district-level training and human resource development programs in freelancing, outsourcing, and data processing.
Other prominent BNP leaders present at the press conference included Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Selima Rahman, Chairperson’s advisers Ismail Jabiullah, Finance Secretary Mahbub Hossain Shyamal, Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan, and Press Wing member Shamsuddin Didar.
