Ensuring Every Citizen’s Rights and Safety Is the Government’s Duty: Tarique Rahman
Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman has said that he believes God has given him a chance. He said he will try, as a human being and not on the basis of religion, to ensure as much safety for everyone as his power allows. As the head of government, he said it is his duty to ensure the rights of every citizen. He is making the best effort to ensure the rights and safety that every citizen deserves, not on the basis of religion.
He said this yesterday while exchanging views with Hindu community leaders of the Dhaka 17 constituency. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat. Representatives of eight temples in Dhaka 17 met the Prime Minister and invited him to the Sharodiya Durga Puja. Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Hasan Shiplu shared this information afterwards.
During the meeting, the leaders praised the government’s many steps for the welfare of Hindus since the BNP came to power. They thanked the Prime Minister for increasing the Puja holidays and grants. The Prime Minister told them that they themselves had said the government did all it could in this short time. He said the government is trying to do more on some issues, and this proves its good intention.
Speaking about the democratic movements of the country and the Liberation War, the Prime Minister said his father took part in the Liberation War. He said people of all religions, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, took part in that war. Everyone also joined the mass movement of 1990 and the mass uprising of 2024, whatever their religion or caste. The Prime Minister asked why the government should consider religion in other work when it did not consider religion in the nation’s critical moments.
He said everyone together made the country independent, and everyone joined the movement to establish democracy. The Prime Minister also said that leaders and activists of different religions faced torture in the movements during the rule of the fascist Awami League. He said his Muslim activists faced torture, and his Hindu activists faced the same torture. He said there was no difference of religion in that.
The Prime Minister then explained his position on ensuring citizen rights. He said, “As a citizen of the country and as a human being, I am trying to do my duty as head of government to give you the rights and the dues you deserve.” He added that he will make the best effort to ensure the fair dues of every citizen, out of his responsibility and commitment.
At the meeting, the Hindu community leaders said they have been living in peace since the national parliamentary election. They said they are not facing any problems. They said the Hindu community did not make a mistake by voting for the BNP, and this government has proved it again and again since taking office. They also said their support and cooperation for the government will continue.
Among the Hindu community leaders, BNP Executive Committee member Mr. Ramesh Dutta, Gulshan Banani Sarbojonin Puja Foundation President Mr. Alok Saha, and Baridhara DOHS Puja Committee President Mr. Jiban Kanai Das were present. Mr. Britis Chandra Karmakar, Mr. Narayan Chandra Saha, Mr. Pradip Chandra Das, Ms. Shikha Rani Das, Mr. Shyamal Kumar Das and Mr. Rajib Kumar Acharya also attended. Mr. Abdur Rahman Sunny, representative of Dhaka 17 MP Mr. Tarique Rahman, and Banani Society Treasurer Mr. Shafiquzzaman Ratan were also there.
PM calls on Canada to help Bangladesh in key sectors
Earlier, a delegation led by Canada’s Minister of State for International Development Mr. Randeep Sarai met the Prime Minister at his office in the Secretariat. Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman then called on Canada to help Bangladesh in many key sectors, including health, education and technology. Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Shahadat Swadhin shared this information afterwards. The two sides held a detailed talk on strengthening bilateral ties, expanding economic cooperation and new chances for a strategic partnership.
The talks also covered key issues such as a solution to the Rohingya crisis, energy security, technical education, agriculture, food security, climate finance and poverty reduction. On the Rohingya issue, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh now shelters about 13 lakh Rohingyas. He said Bangladesh is a crowded country and already faces its own economic and social challenges. The long stay of such a huge number of Rohingyas puts heavy pressure on the economy and environment of Bangladesh.
The head of government said humanitarian aid for the Rohingyas is important, but the lasting solution is their safe, voluntary and dignified return. He said the crisis began in Myanmar, and its solution also lies there. The Canadian Minister of State agreed on the importance of a peaceful, safe and dignified return of the Rohingyas. Canada also showed interest in helping with energy supply to Bangladesh.
The Canadian side said Canada can be a promising partner for Bangladesh, especially in oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Bangladesh side responded positively. Canada also showed interest in helping Bangladesh expand technical and vocational education and training. The meeting discussed the chances of cooperation in this area in particular.
Canada also said it is keen to help build nursing training institutes and produce skilled nurses. It already runs work in this sector and plans to expand it in future. The meeting also discussed the chance to strengthen cooperation in the production and supply of farm goods such as pulses and oilseeds. The delegation showed interest in helping Bangladesh ensure food security, and told the Prime Minister about the existing work through the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.
The meeting discussed the Krishak Card programme of Bangladesh. The Prime Minister said, “The government plans to supply farm inputs, including fertilizer and seeds, to farmers through the Krishak Card. The government will keep detailed information on farmers, and this will help in making correct plans for the farm sector and in delivering government help more effectively.” The meeting said Bangladesh can get help in this area by using Canada’s experience in information management and data based planning.
The Prime Minister cited World Bank information and said that merging several food subsidy programmes could make the targeting of existing cash assistance programmes more effective. He said that if the Family Card is linked with this, 28.5 lakh more people in the country can be freed from poverty. He said it is very important to make people economically self reliant. He said his government is focusing on making people stand on their own feet by increasing income and job chances, along with social safety programmes.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister spoke about initiatives of Bangladesh such as renewable energy, canal digging and the programme to plant 25 crore trees. The Canadian Minister of State said Canada will give 13 billion Canadian dollars for climate finance worldwide over the next five years. He said Bangladesh will benefit from this funding. The delegation said Canada is also keen to help conduct feasibility studies before Bangladesh carries out its development projects.
At the meeting, Mr. Randeep Sarai praised Bangladeshis living in Canada and Canadians of Bangladeshi origin. He spoke about their initiative, skill and positive attitude. He also told the Prime Minister that two people of Bangladeshi origin serve as members of the Canadian Parliament. At the end of the meeting, the Canadian Minister of State invited Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman to visit Canada.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms. Shama Obaed Islam, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Education, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Mr. Mahdi Amin, and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Saleh Shibli were present, along with other officials. On the Canadian side, High Commissioner of Canada to Dhaka Mr. Ajit Singh and other senior officials were present.
