Khaleda Zia announces BNP's 'Vision 2030' in its Sixth National Council

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has outlined her plans for Bangladesh while addressing the party's national council.

She has also called the people to start a movement to topple the Awami League government.

At the council on Saturday, the BNP chief announced plans to ‘elevate Bangladesh to a higher-middle income state by 2030’.

After sitting in the Opposition for five years, the party has no representation in Parliament as it boycotted the last national elections in 2014.

"Be united to get back your rights which you have been deprived of," she said.

Khaleda inaugurated the BNP National Council at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, at Dhaka’s Ramna on Saturday by hoisting the national flag.

Khaleda and her son Tarique Rahman have already been elected chairperson and senior vice-chairman uncontested.

The party positions will be formally announced at the end of the council, which is being held three years behind schedule and six years after the last one in 2009.

In her address, the three times prime minister, reiterated her demand for an interim election under a non-party government.

"I want to ensure that no one will be unnecessarily harassed if the BNP comes to power in future. We will let no injustice happen to anyone.”

The Awami League came to power in 2009 with a promise to elevate Bangladesh to a higher-middle income state by 2021.

After the World Bank last year declared that Bangladesh has now graduated to become a lower-middle income state, the Awami League set a new goal to make the country a developed nation by 2041.

Khaleda, on Saturday, revealed her 'Vision 2030', outlining her plans to make Bangladesh a higher-middle income state by the year 2030.

"The per capita income will be $5,000 by then. The BNP will adopt measures to ensure a double-digit annual growth rate," said the BNP chairperson.

She added that the party's next electoral manifesto would be based on this 'Vision 2030.'