Prime Minister Tarique Rahman pledged to build a prosperous, self-reliant and inclusive democratic Bangladesh while addressing the General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters.
Highlighting his administration’s commitment to political and economic empowerment also the Prime Minister stated that Bangladesh is embarking on a path of democratic restoration following more than a decade and a half of authoritarian rule, corruption and systemic exploitation.
"We want to establish a prosperous, self-reliant, welfare-oriented democratic state where everyone, irrespective of political affiliation, religion or race can live without anxiety and in safety with equal rights, respect and dignity" PM declared.
Rebuilding Nation via 3-R Framework
To repair governance and revive the economy, the government is executing a "3-R Strategy" — Recovery, Restoration and Reconstruction. Tarique Rahman noted that 73% of his administration's 31-point reform program directly aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs) core principle of "Leave No One Behind" with the remaining 27% indirectly supporting these global benchmarks.
He emphasized that Bangladesh welcomes domestic and foreign investment, innovation and international partnerships to establish a stable, transparent and business-friendly environment.
Economic Democratization and Social Safety
The Prime Minister stressed that political democracy must be accompanied by economic democratization so growth benefits every citizen.
Targeted Support Cards: Distribution of the Farmers' Card, Sports Card, e-Health Card and the Family Card.
Women's Empowerment: The Family Card is issued directly to female household heads as a symbol of economic dignity. Plans are underway to integrate these services into a unified Universal Card.
Youth and Start-ups: A US$50 million fund has been allocated in the current fiscal year to assist young entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators.
Prioritizing Education, Healthcare and Sports
Underlining human capital development, Tarique Rahman announced the highest-ever budget allocation for education in Bangladesh's history, with plans to raise education spending gradually to 5% of GDP over the next five years.
Curriculum Overhaul: A shift toward technical, vocational, and ethics-based education tailored for the job market.
Primary School Support: Provision of free school bags, uniforms, and midday meals starting from the first grade to boost enrollment and retention.
Sports as a Profession: Inclusion of sports within the mainstream curriculum. Over two million students participated in a month-long nationwide football tournament in June.
Bridging the Digital and AI Divide
Addressing global technological shifts Prime Minister warned against emerging disparities in advanced technologies.
"We do not want today's digital divide to become tomorrow's artificial intelligence divide" he warned, calling on the United Nations to adopt an effective policy framework ensuring equitable tech transfer, affordable access and ethical regulation of AI and social media.
Rohingya Repatriation and Global Affairs
On the humanitarian front Prime Minister highlighted that Bangladesh continues to shelter over 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar for over nine years, putting immense strain on local resources, security and the environment.
Safe Return: Reaffirmed that the only sustainable solution is the voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Call for Action: Urged the international community to sustain life-saving humanitarian assistance and ensure accountability to prevent a escalating crisis.
Regarding wider international security, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to general disarmament, non-proliferation and UN peace operations. He reiterated unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and an independent state.
On climate change, he stressed that as one of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, Bangladesh expects strong commitments at COP31 regarding climate justice, adaptation financing and loss-and-damage support.
Closing his address, Prime Minister summarized his administration's vision for national renewal: "Bangladesh First: Bangladesh for All."
