Prime Minister Tarique Rahman pledged Wednesday to build a people-centered, accountable, and value-based state at Sangsad Bhaban, Dhaka, saying his government is committed to restoring moral values and strengthening education and healthcare.
He was delivering his winding-up speech at the conclusion of the second budget session of the 13th National Parliament.
The PM called for national unity, saying differences of opinion in politics should never turn into enmity or vengeance.
He said: "The government wants to establish a Bangladesh where the state remains accountable to the people, the economy is inclusive, and every citizen enjoys security, dignity, and opportunities."
He thanked lawmakers from both treasury and opposition benches for their participation, reiterating that political disagreement is natural in a parliamentary democracy but should never lead to hostility.
He said: "Before I conclude, I want to say one thing. In Parliament, as is the practice across the world, there will naturally be differences of opinion. But there must never be hostility. Instead of vengeance and retaliation, there must be fairness and justice."
He added: "As the Leader of the Opposition has rightly emphasized, I also want to stress that Bangladesh must never again allow fascism or authoritarianism to raise its head. Nor should our beloved motherland ever become a subservient state. On this issue, I firmly believe there is national unity between the treasury and opposition benches, and we will preserve that unity at any cost."
Rahman said the government plans to raise education spending to 5% of GDP over the next five years, alongside teacher training programs to improve education quality.
He said health expenditure will be raised from the current 1.2% of GDP to 5% over the same period to rebuild the healthcare system.
He said the government has begun appointing 1 lakh healthcare workers nationwide to improve primary healthcare services and raise public awareness.
He said five specialized 200-bed children's hospitals, one in each of five divisions, are expected to begin operations by September, creating 1,000 dedicated pediatric beds.
Criticizing the previous government's management of the power sector, Rahman alleged that around Tk300,000 crore had been looted from the sector over one and a half decades, and more than Tk130,000 crore had been paid as capacity charges to quick rental power plants without corresponding public benefit.
He said the previous government made the country excessively dependent on imported energy while neglecting strategic fuel reserves.
Rahman said the government has increased the country's fuel reserve from less than 30 days to more than 45 days and aims to expand it to 90 days.
He said the government is reviving the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX), enabling it to drill new gas wells and conduct further exploration with newly imported rigs.
Rahman expressed confidence in the economy, saying Bangladesh has begun recovering despite global economic uncertainties and ongoing international conflicts.
He said the country's farmers, youth, and entrepreneurs will help achieve sustainable growth if corruption is controlled, fair opportunities are created, and state institutions are made accountable.
Rahman also stressed the need to restore family, social, and moral values, saying their erosion under authoritarian rule had affected politics, the economy, society, and culture.
He called on lawmakers to promote civic responsibility and urged citizens not to litter public places or dispose of plastic waste indiscriminately.
The Leader of the House also requested the Speaker to arrange one month's basic salary as an honorarium, following parliamentary tradition, for officials and employees of the Parliament Secretariat, the Prime Minister's Office, Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and other agencies involved in conducting the budget session.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal chaired the sitting, which began at 5pm. Before the House concluded, Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman also delivered his winding-up speech.
The deputy speaker later read out the President's prorogation order.
