Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday urged all to work together to build an inclusive and self-reliant Bangladesh, ensuring that everyone can live well together.
"Let the pledge of this Independence Day be that not just one section of society, but all of us will live well together. We will all strive to live well together, and we will do so, Insha'Allah," he said, while addressing a discussion marking Independence and National Day.
The programme was organised by BNP at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium in the capital, where the Prime Minister attended as the chief guest.
Tarique said the current democratic government has been formed by the people and belongs to them. "This democratic government has been established by the people of this country," he said.
The Prime Minister said although the people's aspirations are vast, the country's resources remain limited, and there is a gap between the nation's ambitions and its means.
"But as a citizen and a political worker, I firmly believe that if we move forward in unity and work together for the country, we will surely be able to build our desired self-reliant Bangladesh. On this great Independence Day, I would like to convey this message to all democracy-loving people, my party colleagues across Bangladesh," he said.
To achieve that goal, the Prime Minister said the government has taken various initiatives targeting different sections of society, including the introduction of family cards, farmers' cards and canal excavation programmes.
He said steps have already been taken and their implementation has begun to improve people's living standards.
The discussion began at 3:00pm with a recitation from the Holy Quran. The Prime Minister arrived at the venue at 3:57pm.
BNP Standing Committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed, among others, spoke at the programme, with BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the chair.