Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday reaffirmed his government's “zero-tolerance” policy on corruption and extremism, pledging to build a people-centred, accountable state while calling for national unity to ensure that fascism, militancy and authoritarianism never return to Bangladesh.
"The government is determined to curb corruption by any means," he said delivering his winding-up speech at the concluding sitting of the 2nd and budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.
The Prime Minister said the government is taking decisive steps to strengthen law enforcement, protect state resources and restore public confidence in state institutions.
Alleging that around US$16 billion had been siphoned out of the country every year during the previous regime, he said corruption had become one of the principal obstacles to Bangladesh's development and that his government is committed to dismantling the system that enabled such practices.
To strengthen public safety, Tarique Rahman said the government has planned to recruit 10,000 new police constables as part of efforts to build a professional, modern and people-oriented law enforcement force.
He said the government wants to build professional law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe environment for citizens.
The Prime Minister also reiterated that the government will not tolerate any form of extremism or militancy, and expressed confidence that it will receive the opposition's support in maintaining a united stance against such threats.
He said announced plans to introduce a Universal Card to bring all government welfare programmes under a single platform, while outlining an ambitious roadmap to create 9 crore jobs and transform Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034.
"We have already started implementing programmes such as the Family Card, Farmers' Card, Sports Card and honorariums for imams, muezzins and other religious leaders. Eventually, all these services will be brought under a single Universal Card," the Prime Minister said.
He said the government has drawn up sector-based plans with the goal of creating employment for 9 crore people in phases.
Tarique Rahman reiterated the government's commitment to shifting Bangladesh from a debt-driven economy to an investment-led one. "Our goal is to transform the economy from one driven by debt to one driven by investment, which will create wealth and employment," he said.
He expressed hope that the country's economy will approach the one-trillion-dollar mark by 2034 through investment-led growth.
Highlighting the government's climate agenda, the Prime Minister said a nationwide programme has been undertaken to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years through joint public participation and government initiatives.
He said around 2 lakh saplings were planted across the country on Wednesday as part of a tree plantation campaign involving primary school students and educational institutions.
To support the programme, Tarique Rahman said the government plans to establish 10,000 new nurseries, which are expected to generate employment for around 250,000 people.
He said the government is also advancing plans in land management, port management, rural and urban infrastructure development, technology-based education, multilingual learning, internal security and a modern defence strategy.
Tarique Rahman also said the government remains committed to implementing every pledge made in the BNP's 31-point reform agenda, saying the manifesto has now become "the people's mandate" following the party's election victory.
He further reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing every provision of the July Charter, signed by political parties ahead of the election.
The Prime Minister also criticised the previous Awami League regime over the education sector, alleging that it had undermined academic standards by encouraging cheating and introducing automatic promotions, and said the government is working to improve education through better teacher training and other reforms.
He pledged to build a people-centred, accountable and value-based state, saying his government is committed to restoring moral values, strengthening education and healthcare, and ensuring that fascism, extremism and authoritarianism never return to Bangladesh.
Tarique Rahman called for national unity, saying differences of opinion in politics should never turn into enmity or vengeance.
“The government wants to establish a Bangladesh where the state remains accountable to the people, the economy is inclusive, and every citizen enjoys security, dignity and opportunities,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the government plans to gradually increase education spending to 5 percent of GDP over the next five years, alongside extensive teacher training programmes to improve the quality of education.
He also announced that health expenditure will be raised from the current 1.2 percent of GDP to 5 percent over the same period as part of efforts to rebuild what he described as a badly damaged healthcare system.
Highlighting preventive healthcare, Tarique Rahman said the government has already begun the process of appointing 1 lakh healthcare workers across the country to raise public awareness and improve primary healthcare services.
He said five specialised 200-bed children's hospitals – one in each of five divisions – are expected to begin operations by September, creating 1,000 dedicated paediatric beds.
Criticising the previous government's management of the power sector, the Prime Minister alleged that around Tk 3 lakh crore had been looted from the sector over one and a half decades and more than Tk 1.3 lakh crore had been paid as capacity charges to quick rental power plants without corresponding public benefits.
He also said the previous government made the country excessively dependent on imported energy while neglecting strategic fuel reserves.
Tarique Rahman said the current government has already increased the country's fuel reserve from less than 30 days to more than 45 days and aims to expand it to 90 days.
He said the government is reviving the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX), enabling it to drill new gas wells and conduct further exploration with newly imported rigs.
Expressing confidence about the economy, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh has already begun recovering despite global economic uncertainties and ongoing international conflicts.
He said the country's hardworking people, productive farmers, energetic youth and promising entrepreneurs will help achieve sustainable growth if corruption is controlled, fair opportunities are created, and state institutions are made accountable.
Tarique Rahman also stressed the need to restore family, social and moral values, saying the erosion of values under authoritarian rule had affected not only politics and the economy but also society and culture.
Calling upon lawmakers to play an active role in promoting civic responsibility, he urged citizens not to litter public places or dispose of plastic waste indiscriminately, saying such small actions could significantly improve public health and the environment.
The Prime Minister described the just-concluded budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad as a "historic moment", saying it marked the return of a Parliament genuinely elected by the people after years of what he termed fascist rule.
He said the Parliament passed a "people-friendly" budget through lively and democratic debates among treasury and opposition lawmakers.
"As a political worker and a Member of Parliament, I believe this is a historic moment. After many years, Bangladesh now has a Parliament elected by the people where their true representatives have discussed and passed a national budget," he said.
Tarique Rahman said the government's objective was to present a budget that would directly benefit the people. "We wanted to prepare a life-friendly budget for the people. Various organisations that analyse the national budget have also acknowledged that this budget is largely people-friendly," he said.
He, however, stressed that effective implementation will require cooperation from the public administration, private institutions and all stakeholders so that the benefits of the budget reach people's doorsteps.
The Prime Minister thanked all lawmakers and the people for making the new Parliament vibrant and democratic.
Referring to debates on legislation during the session, he said differences of opinion were expressed freely by both treasury and opposition members.
"This is the beauty of democracy and the essence of parliamentary democracy," Tarique Rahman said.
He paid tribute to those who, he said, sacrificed their lives in different movements and struggles throughout the country's history.
The Prime Minister recalled the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, the November 7, 1975 uprising, those killed in the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident, the victims of the 2009 BDR mutiny, political activists who died during the anti-autocracy movement in 1990, and those who were killed, disappeared or subjected to repression during the past one-and-a-half decades of fascist rule.
He also paid tribute to those killed during the July 2024 mass uprising, saying their sacrifices will always be remembered.
Tarique Rahman said the government and the opposition agreed to stand beside those affected by the July uprising and others who made sacrifices for democracy, subject to the state's financial capacity.
He said the government is committed to building a welfare state based on justice, equality and democratic values where no one will face discrimination because of wealth or status and where extremism will have no place.
The Prime Minister said the government has already begun implementing several welfare initiatives, including the Family Card, Farmers' Card, Sports Card and honorariums for imams, muezzins and other religious leaders, as part of its commitment to ensuring broader state support for citizens.