(BSS) - Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Secretary General and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director and Chief Editor Muhammed Kader Gani Chowdhury has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has successfully restored the public`s trust, confidence and affection upon assuming power.

He said Deltagram opinion poll revealed that about 75.3 percent of people expressed support and satisfaction to the BNP government.

“I have no hesitation in saying that under the capable leadership of Tarique Rahman, power has shifted from the individual to the people,” he remarked.

Gani made these comments this morning (7:00 am Bangladesh time) while addressing a view-exchange meeting, as the chief guest, with expatriate Bangladeshis in the United States, according to a message received here today.

Presided over by Nasim Ahmed, President of the US Jatiyatabadi Front, the meeting was attended, among others, by Zakir H Chowdhury, President of the America-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce; Dr Wazed Ali Khan, Editor of the weekly Bangladesh; senior journalist Anwar Hossain Manju; and journalists Saiful Islam, Zakaria Ahmed, Mahbubur Rahman, Al Mamun Sabuj, Nur Alam, Motahar Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan, Shahabuddin, Shah Alam Shimul, Shah Alam, Shahadat Hossain, Farhad Mridha, Harun-or-Rashid, Hamidullah Khan, Raisul Islam Rabbi, and Shamim Mahmud.

Gani Chowdhury said about 70 to 75 percent of the development witnessed in Bangladesh is attributable to the BNP, which was achieved under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

He said the people of the country envision a developed and prosperous Bangladesh in the future under the leadership of BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

“We, too, are optimistic that the people will turn this vision into reality,” he said.

The BSS chief editor said Bangladeshi Taka is currently in its strongest position against dollar and the Indian rupee in five and a half years, thanks to various measures taken by the government.

This is fostering a positive image of the country among foreigners and importers, he said.

Further stabilisation of the exchange rate will boost the confidence of foreign investors and businesspeople involved in international trade, Gani said.

Due to various measures taken by the government, a new record has been set in ready-made garment exports to non-traditional markets, he said.

In August of the current fiscal 2026-27, the BFUJ secretary general said, exports to these markets reached a record US$ 642.93 million, marking the highest monthly export figure for the sector.

Due to banking sector reforms and intensified loan recovery initiatives, the volume of non-performing loans (NPLs) in the country has dropped by nearly 3 percentage points over the past nine months, while the NPL ratio fell from 35.73 percent in September 2025 to 32.78 percent in June 2026, he said.

Records were set not only in non-traditional markets but also in garment exports to the United States, he said, adding that in the fiscal 2025-26 alone, the US imported goods worth about US$ 9.04 billion from Bangladesh.

He said the growth momentum in ready-made garment exports to the US market at the start of the current fiscal — highlighted by a record 25.65 percent growth in August — has once again underscored Bangladesh`s export potential.

The journalist leader said the Tarique Rahman government has set a record in repaying debts left behind by the fallen Awami League government.

Within just five months of assuming office, the BNP government repaid a record US$ 204.76 crore in foreign loan principal and interest, he said.

Despite the pressure of servicing the massive debt accumulated during the fallen Awami League government’s tenure, the incumbent government is consistently repaying the debt, he added.

Gani said the restoration of the parliamentary culture characterized by questions, counter-questions, discussions, and accountability —alongside the initiative to resolve 133 ordinances during the very first session — signals a return to institutional norms.

Noting that a significant shift is underway in the culture of exercising power, Gani said the Prime Minister`s decision to maintain a modest motorcade and avoid prolonged road closures during his movement might not boost the GDP or lower inflation, but this holds a distinct significance for the relations between the state and its citizens.

“The less state power is flaunted, the more visible the respect for ordinary citizens becomes. Measures such as curbing the purchase of government vehicles, limiting unnecessary foreign trips and training, and practicing austerity in public spending convey the same message,” he said.

The BSS chief editor said the Prime Minister has decided to contribute 10 percent of his basic salary to the state exchequer, which is a positive precedent.

People’s lives were in the significant part of the government’s political commitment and the `Family Card` is one of the most visible manifestations of that pledge, he said.

Under a pilot programme, hundreds of families are receiving monthly assistance of Taka 2,500, he added.

Gani said it is not merely the monetary amount that matters here; what is crucial is the effort to make social safety nets more targeted, regular, and institutionalised.

He observed that while this sum might not cover every need of a low-income family, it can provide relief in critical areas like food, education, or healthcare.

The BFUJ secretary general said the concept of the `Farmer Card` is similarly related to the realities of Bangladesh as agriculture remains the main base of the nation`s economy and food security.

Initiatives involving the Farmer Card have been launched in various districts to ensure farmers have easy access to agricultural inputs, credit, and government services, he said.

The journalist leader said the move to waive agricultural loans and associated interest for about 12 lakh small and marginal farmers is an effort to alleviate their financial burden.

For a marginal farmer, reducing the debt burden is not simply about erasing a few figures from a ledger; at times, it provides the courage to return to the fields for the new planting season, he said.

Gani said the government has decided to waive loans — including interest — of upto Taka 10,000 for 13 lakh farmers’ families.

Simultaneously, he said, initiatives have been launched to introduce `Farmer Cards` for farmers, `Family Cards` for women, and `Expatriate Cards` for migrant workers.

Honoraria for Imams, Muezzins, and other religious leaders have been reinstated, alongside the revival of nationwide canal excavation and tree-planting programmes, he added.

The BFUJ secretary general said measures have been taken to stabilise commodity prices during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid by curbing artificial market syndicates and to ensure the timely payment of workers` wages and bonuses.

Recently, he said, Taka 2,000 crore was released to clear the outstanding dues of retired MPO-listed teachers.

He noted that the incumbent government has turned a record number of ordinances into laws in Parliament. Through the amended Anti-Terrorism Ordinance, autocratic political organisations have been banned, Gani said.

He said initiatives have been implemented to introduce new subjects in the curriculum, provide free education for girls up to the undergraduate level, offer mid-day meals in primary schools, provide free Wi-Fi, and organise sports and innovation competitions, as well as opportunities for students to participate in a student parliament.

Highlighting that this same philosophy is reflected in the health sector, he said initiatives such as `Health Cards,` the expansion of primary healthcare, and ensuring the easy availability of essential medicines are directly linked to people`s life.

The journalist leader said environmental and climate-related issues are also getting importance in the government`s development vision.

Programmes such as the climate budget, the expansion of renewable energy, the re-excavation of rivers and canals, and tree-planting initiatives give a forward-looking sign, he added.