Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives State Minister Mir Shah Alam has pledged to recognise BNP activists who faced persecution during the party’s difficult years by providing opportunities for employment, lawful dealerships and contracting work. He also assured people that family cards would be distributed gradually without requiring recipients to pay bribes.
He made the remarks on 24 September at a cheque distribution ceremony for families affected by flooding in Banshkhali upazila, Chattogram.
Addressing the gathering at Baharchhara Union Parishad premises, Mir Shah Alam said BNP activists who had stood by the party during periods of political hardship would receive recognition over time. He emphasised that any employment or business opportunities offered would have to comply with the law and relevant regulations.
“I promise that all BNP activists who stood by the party during its difficult times will be recognised, Insha’Allah. You will get jobs, lawful dealership opportunities, opportunities to work and lawful contracting opportunities. Those who faced persecution while serving the party will be recognised gradually, in accordance with the law and regulations,” he said.
His remarks placed employment and economic opportunities at the centre of his pledge to party activists. Dealerships and contracting work can provide routes to earning a livelihood, while formal employment may offer greater financial stability. However, the minister did not specify the types of jobs available, the sectors in which dealership opportunities might be offered, or the process through which activists could qualify for contracting work.
He also did not announce a timetable for implementing the commitments. His statement made clear that the opportunities would be provided in phases and subject to legal requirements, but further details about eligibility, selection procedures and oversight were not disclosed at the event.
Family Cards to Be Distributed Without Bribes
The minister also addressed the distribution of family cards, assuring attendees that no one would need to pay a bribe to obtain one.
“I want to make this absolutely clear: there is no need to pay anyone a bribe for a family card. Everyone will receive one gradually,” he said.
His remarks stressed the need for people to access the scheme without making unofficial payments. Transparency in the distribution of social assistance is important to ensuring that eligible households can receive benefits fairly, without being disadvantaged by demands for money or other irregularities.
However, the minister did not outline the criteria for eligibility, the application and verification procedures, or the schedule for distributing the cards. The details of how the assurance would be implemented therefore remain unclear.
The family card pledge was made alongside his commitment to recognise BNP activists who had faced political persecution. The two announcements concerned different forms of support: employment and business opportunities for party members, and access to a social assistance scheme for eligible recipients.
Senior Officials and BNP Leaders Attend
Several officials and political figures attended the ceremony at Baharchhara Union Parishad in Banshkhali. They included Mohammad Enamul Haque, Member of Parliament for Chattogram-12; Mahabuber Rahman Shamim, administrator of the Chattogram District Council; and Mohammad Zakaria, Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau under the Prime Minister’s Office. BNP leaders and activists from various levels of the party were also present.
The event combined the distribution of financial assistance to flood-affected families with the minister’s statements on employment, business opportunities and family cards.
While Mir Shah Alam offered assurances on both issues, the practical impact of his commitments will depend on the implementation arrangements, the applicable eligibility requirements and the procedures established for distributing the promised opportunities and benefits. No specific implementation schedule or detailed plan was announced during the ceremony.
