Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday 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.
Delivering his winding-up speech at the conclusion of the 2nd and budget session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, he 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,” the Prime Minister said.
Thanking lawmakers from both treasury and opposition benches for their constructive participation, he reiterated that political disagreement is natural in a parliamentary democracy but should never lead to hostility.
“Before I conclude, I want to say one thing. In Parliament, as is the practice across the world, there will naturally be differences of opinion. But there must never be hostility. Instead of vengeance and retaliation, there must be fairness and justice," Tarique Rahman said.
"As the Leader of the Opposition has rightly emphasised, I also want to stress that Bangladesh must never again allow fascism or authoritarianism to raise its head. Nor should our beloved motherland ever become a subservient state. On this issue, I firmly believe there is national unity between the treasury and opposition benches, and we will preserve that unity at any cost,” he added.
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 Leader of the House also requested the Speaker to arrange one month's basic salary as an honorarium, following parliamentary tradition, for officials and employees of the Parliament Secretariat, the Prime Minister's Office, Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other agencies involved in conducting the budget session.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal chaired the sitting that began at 5:00pm. Before the House concluded, Leader of Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman also delivered his winding-up speech.
The Deputy Speaker later read out the prorogation order of the President.