Jamaat Outlines Policy for 'New Bangladesh'

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami today announced a series of policy commitments at its “Policy Summit 2026”, outlining proposals on governance, taxation, social security, employment, education and healthcare, while pledging zero tolerance for corruption if it comes to power.

The event was held at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka and attended by diplomats, politicians, academics, industrialists, journalists and members of civil society.

Under its fiscal proposals, the party said it would gradually reduce tax and value-added tax (VAT) from current rates, with a long-term target of lowering tax to 19 percent and VAT to 10 percent.

The party also announced plans to introduce a ‘Smart Social Security Card’, integrating National Identity (NID), Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), health services and social welfare benefits into a single platform.

On utilities and industry, Jamaat said gas, electricity and water charges for all industries would not be increased over the next three years. It also pledged to reopen closed factories through public-private partnership arrangements, with 10 percent ownership allocated to workers.

In the agricultural sector, the party proposed interest-free loan facilities for farmers.

Addressing unemployment, Jamaat said up to five lakh graduates would receive interest-free loans of up to Tk 10,000 per month for a maximum period of two years after graduation, or until they secure employment, under a Qard-e-Hasana scheme.

In the education sector, the party announced interest-free education loans of Tk 10,000 per month for one lakh students, based on merit and financial need.

It also said 100 students each year would be provided interest-free loans to study at leading global universities, including Harvard, MIT, Oxford and Cambridge, with the aim of supporting meritorious students from low-income families.

The party further announced plans to merge Eden College and Begum Badrunnesa College to establish what it described as the world’s largest women’s university.

On healthcare, the party pledged free medical services for citizens aged over 60 and children under five, alongside plans to establish 64 specialised hospitals, one in each district.

Under its proposed “First Thousand Days Programme”, Jamaat said it would ensure primary healthcare and nutrition security for mothers and children from pregnancy until a child reaches the age of two, bringing the initiative under the social security framework.