PM Tarique Rahman Sets Austerity Precedent: Personal Car, Private Fuel, and Reduced Motorcade

Upon assuming office, the Prime Minister has decided to forgo official luxury vehicles, opting instead to use his personal car and private fuel for daily official travel. This move was clearly highlighted on his first working day, Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as he traveled to pay respects at the National Memorial and the mazars of his parents in a private white Toyota.

To further alleviate public suffering, the Prime Minister has slashed his motorcade from the traditional 14 vehicles to just 4 and ordered an end to the practice of stationing uniformed police along roads during his movement. In a move to streamline administration, regular Cabinet meetings will now be held at the Secretariat instead of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), preventing the "VIP congestion" typically caused by ministers traveling across the city. For routine official work, he travels in a car without the national flag, reserving its use only for formal state functions.

This individual stance reflects a broader party policy where all newly elected BNP MPs have officially refused duty-free car privileges and government-allocated residential plots. These measures are part of a 180-day action plan designed to fulfill election manifestos and align with public expectations for grounded and accountable leadership.