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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has stated that the BNP has succeeded in re-establishing democracy in the country after a long period of movements and struggles. He said that the BNP not only brought back multi-party democracy but also established parliamentary democracy.
The Prime Minister made these remarks on Tuesday (September 1) at his office in the Secretariat when Anda Filip, Secretary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), paid a courtesy call. Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin later briefed journalists.
During the meeting, Tarique Rahman stated that the BNP has long struggled for democracy. He claimed that during this period, numerous party activists were subjected to enforced disappearances and killings, and false cases were filed against approximately 40 lakh (4 million) party members.
The Prime Minister said that the democratic process in the country has been facilitated through the elections held on February 12. However, some challenges still lie ahead. Noting the high expectations people have for democracy, he stated that sustainable progress and development in the country can only be ensured through an effective and robust democratic system.
He further added that his government is working to protect the constitutional rights of every citizen and ensure the necessary services for the people.
During the meeting, IPU Secretary Anda Filip praised the Prime Minister’s leadership. She said that the Prime Minister’s regular participation in the National Parliament sessions carries a strong message of his firm commitment to parliamentary democracy.
Anda Filip mentioned that she had read the BNP’s election manifesto. She commended various initiatives in the education sector and community-based programs. She also praised the advancement of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh, stating that if this trend continues, public trust in state institutions and the democratic system will be further strengthened.
The IPU Secretary expressed interest in strengthening experience sharing and cooperation with the Bangladesh National Parliament. She also hoped that the participation of the Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament in the 153rd IPU conference in Tanzania would further strengthen the relationship between the two institutions.
The meeting emphasized increasing civic awareness to make democracy more effective and sustainable. The issue of women’s empowerment also came up for discussion.
Mentioning women’s empowerment as one of the government’s top priorities, the Prime Minister stated that there are plans to provide free education for women up to the honors level and to introduce stipends for female students.
Highlighting the objectives of the Family Card project, he said that a key goal of this project is to make women financially self-reliant and increase their participation in family decision-making.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humayun Kabir and State Minister for Foreign Affairs-2 Shama Obaid Islam were present at the meeting.