PM Pledges Equal Rights for All Communities

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday reaffirmed his commitment to building a prosperous, inclusive and discrimination-free Bangladesh, pledging that no community would be left behind in the country's development.

He made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of ethnic communities at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat, according to the Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Suzauddhowla (Suzon Mahmood).

Describing ethnic communities as an integral part of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said his government is committed to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all citizens.

"My government and I are working to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh. We want to move forward together in building the Bangladesh the people aspire to. We do not consider anyone separate. No one will be left behind in building a new Bangladesh," he said.

During the meeting, representatives of ethnic communities presented several demands, including the formation of a land commission to resolve land disputes in the plains, a national convention for disadvantaged ethnic groups, recognition of communities by their respective ethnic identities instead of the term "ethnic minorities," constitutional recognition as indigenous peoples, establishment of a central cultural centre, protection against eviction in the name of development projects or reserved forests, and easier access to loans.

Responding to the demands, the Prime Minister said the country is going through a challenging period, citing institutional and economic setbacks inherited from the previous administration.

"The previous government destroyed the country's institutions and economy. About US$16 billion was siphoned abroad every year. Had that money remained in the country, many of your problems could have been resolved," he said.

Tarique Rahman said the government is addressing the issues in phases, prioritising those that can be resolved immediately.

He also stressed the importance of national unity.

"The challenges before us are immense. We must remain united, work together and build a better future for everyone," he said.

The Prime Minister said many long-standing issues should have been addressed years ago, adding that the current government is working to rebuild the country while meeting public expectations.

He also highlighted initiatives to strengthen the health sector, including upgrading upazila health complexes to 101-bed hospitals and increasing budget allocations for healthcare in the 2026–27 fiscal year, alongside tax reductions on essential medical equipment such as dialysis machines and heart stents.

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic Affairs Bijon Kanti Sarkar, MP Anna Minj, cultural activist Sanjib Drong, and representatives of 18 ethnic communities from 17 districts attended the meeting.