Prime Minister Tarique Rahman spent his second consecutive working day at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday, holding a series of high-level meetings on social protection, environmental reform and national security, as the newly elected government moves to translate its election pledges into action.
The prime minister arrived at his temporary office at the Cabinet Division in Building No 1 of the Secretariat shortly after 9am.
According to his office, he left his Gulshan Avenue residence at 8:34am in his personal vehicle and reached the Secretariat at 9:15am.
His convoy halted at four traffic signals where red lights were in effect during the 41-minute journey.
Cabinet Secretary Dr Nasimul Ghani and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar received him upon arrival.
According to Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman, pedestrians greeted the prime minister along the route, applauding and waving as his vehicle stopped at traffic signals.
The prime minister responded by waving back from his car.
Once at the office, he inquired about the presence of ministers, secretaries and other senior officials at their respective offices.
Focus on Family Card rollout
One of the day’s central engagements was a high-level inter-ministerial meeting at 11:30am to finalize the work plan for the government’s flagship Family Card program.
The initiative, a key election pledge of the BNP-led government, aims to establish a sustainable framework to provide essential commodities and financial assistance to marginalized and low-income households at fair prices.
Ministers and secretaries from relevant ministries presented proposals on beneficiary identification, distribution mechanisms and technical preparations for compiling eligible lists.
The prime minister emphasized the need for an efficient and transparent system, underscoring the program’s importance in easing the cost-of-living pressures faced by ordinary citizens.
Government sources said the Family Card is being treated as a priority social protection project, with the prime minister keen to move swiftly while ensuring administrative readiness.
Environment and climate agenda
In the afternoon, at around 2pm, the prime minister chaired another major meeting focusing on environmental conservation and natural resource restoration.
The discussion centred on a master plan to plant 250 million trees over the next five years, alongside a nationwide program to dredge rivers, canals and reservoirs to restore natural water flow.
Officials briefed the prime minister on climate risks, water management challenges and encroachment of waterways.
The government is expected to issue strict instructions to relevant agencies to recover encroached canals and rivers and to ensure proper implementation of the proposed afforestation drive.
The meeting reflected the new administration’s stated commitment to addressing climate change and ecological degradation through long-term planning.
Courtesy call by service chiefs
Earlier in the day, the chiefs of the three armed services paid a courtesy call on the prime minister at his Secretariat office.
Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan met the prime minister in a meeting also attended by Prime Minister’s Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam.
Officials described the meeting as part of routine engagements between the head of government and the military leadership following the formation of a new administration.
The prime minister has been conducting official duties from the Secretariat since Wednesday, the first working day of the BNP-led government, as renovation and repair work is underway at his permanent office and official residence, Jamuna.
According to his office, he is expected to continue working from the Secretariat for the next few days.