Freedom of expression and rule of law will be equal for everyone: Prime Minister

He said this in his opening speech at the ‘Bay of Bengal Conversation’ organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Saturday morning.

The Prime Minister said strong state institutions are essential for the country's development. Emphasis is being placed on institutional culture to make state institutions effective in serving the people.

He said the government has a five-year work plan to implement the people's mandate. Prioritizing protection of national interests, continuity of policy, economic stability and institutional reform, the government is moving from promises to implementation.

Noting that government assistance and services have been made easily accessible through the ‘Family Card’, ‘Farmer Card’ and ‘Health Card’, Tarek Rahman said there are plans to provide integrated government services through a ‘Universal Card’ in the future. He also emphasized creating a positive environment for investment as well as a strong rural economy.

Regarding the Rohingya crisis, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh has been sheltering nearly 1.2 million Rohingyas. To find a permanent solution to this crisis, the international community's political support and funding are needed. He remarked that not only repatriation, but also the root causes of the crisis must be addressed.

This year's dialogue organized by CGS is being attended by nearly 1,500 delegates from more than 100 countries. Around 200 speakers are scheduled to participate. The theme of the dialogue is—‘Fragments, Frontiers, Futures: Navigating Power, Technology and Trust in a World Rewritten’.