Staff Correspondent:

BNP Standing Committee Member Ameer Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the people’s mood is now centred on the upcoming general election, thanks to the announcement of the election roadmap.

“I welcome the Election Commission for announcing the roadmap. With this, people are now focused on the national election,” he said this in an immediate reaction, shortly after the announcement of the election roadmap.

While addressing a programme earlier in the day, he said that no politics will ensure people’s welfare, and democracy will go in vain if economic democratisation is not ensured.

Claiming that democracy alone is insufficient in politics, he said, ‘We must establish democracy while ensuring equal rights for all to build a truly pro-people state.”

The programme was held at a hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, where the BNP leader emphasised that all future initiatives in Bangladesh must reach people in remote areas, reflecting their aspirations.

He said that if his party comes to power, the art and culture of rural areas would be brought into the mainstream economy.

“We must utilise our demographic dividend to realise our potential. For this, along with education, everyone must develop themselves as skilled individuals,” he said, sharing a concept on creative industries to boost the country’s overall economy.

Explaining the concept, he said it will involve all people, including blacksmiths, potters, artisans, designers, and musicians, integrating everyone into the economy.

For instance, we have many forms of music, Bhawaiya, folk songs, and Lalon songs, but we have yet to bring these into the mainstream. Many forms of music in Bangladesh are disappearing.”

“Globally, handicrafts have a high value, but we have not been able to make use of their potential. We must provide them with the raw materials they need, support them, offer opportunities for product branding and give them marketing platforms,” he said.