Bangladesh on path from ruins to planned reconstruction: Information Minister

The information minister made these remarks at a press briefing held at the Prime Minister's Office today to present the government's 180-day activities and progress before the people.

The information minister said the mass explosion and mass uprising of August 5, 2024 were an expression of the people's long-standing anger. Through this, the then fascist regime fell and the fascist remnants were forced to flee the country. The mass uprising born from that anger of the people has turned August 5 into a historic symbol.

He said the spontaneous participation, love and expectations of hundreds of thousands and millions of people surrounding the return of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to the country on December 25, 2025 was another symbol opposite to that anger. On one hand, August 5, 2024 was an expression of the people's anger; on the other hand, December 25, 2025 was an expression of the people's hopes, love and dreams about the future. Again, on December 31, 2025, the unprecedented love, respect and honor shown by the people at the death of Begum Khaleda Zia, the chief leader of Bangladesh's long struggle for democracy, was another symbolic message of the people.

August 5, 2024, December 25, 2025 and December 31, 2025 — these three events are clear reflections of the Bangladeshi people's anger toward fascism, trust in Tarique Rahman, and respect and love for country leader Begum Khaleda Zia.

Zahir Uddin Swapan said the people have regained their voting rights, have given their mandate through elections, and the Tarique Rahman government has been running with that mandate. The government knows that it has a responsibility to be accountable to the people. Certainly, the government will come before the people and regularly present its activities and answer appropriate questions.

He said the people are aware of the party's plan announced before the election and the election manifesto. How much of the manifesto has been implemented will also be consistently presented before the people. However, the government has to give urgent priority to the task of building an effective state system from the reality of ruins and anger created on August 5, 2024.

The minister said, 'Before constructing a new building on ruins, debris has to be cleared. Similarly, the economy, society, state and every institution and organ of the state first have to be reconstructed in such a way that our Prime Minister's announced "I Have a Plan" can be turned into a realistic action plan.'

The information minister said, noting that the government has to overcome this difficult phase of identifying the problems and wounds of institutions, repairing and making them effective, and creating the necessary foundation for future programmes, that in the first 180 days, making the state fit for implementing new programmes is more important than implementing all programmes simultaneously.

The information minister said establishing a culture of accountability is one of the current government's commitments. By answering journalists' questions, the government will explain its activities before the people. This process of regularly being accountable to the people will continue.

The minister expressed hope that as the government's tenure progresses, after crossing the difficult initial reconstruction phase, the government's plans will be implemented more smoothly and effectively in fulfilling the people's expectations.

He said, 'We hope that the further we advance, the more we will be able to implement our leader's announced plan appropriately.'

At the press briefing, the Information and Broadcasting Minister answered various questions from journalists about the government's 180-day activities and expressed determination to continue this process of government accountability before the people in the future.