Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s call for an inclusive and safe society must not be taken lightly, and rather ought to be seen as a demand for action.
As a nation looking to take the next logical steps in our development journey, we cannot afford to treat inclusivity and protection as abstract ideals. They must be made real in the everyday lives of citizens, especially those most vulnerable to exclusion and insecurity.
What is also encouraging is that the PM has also stressed on building a Bangladesh where cruelty against animals, which must also not only be appreciated but followed through.
When it comes to our barriers to inclusivity and safety, we have long known the challenges: Corruption, gender-based violence, discrimination against minorities, and the persistent marginalization of the poor.
That these issues persist at the scale that they do are nothing if not systemic failures that continue to erode trust in governance and weaken our social fabric.
To that end, if we are to heed the PM’s words, we must confront these failures directly.
Inclusivity requires more than representation but requires empowerment. Women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities must not only be visible but must be given the authority in decision-making.
On the topic of safety, while we need our policing to sufficiently improve, we also must demand accountability, transparency, and a justice system that protects rather than intimidates.
We have long stated that progress without equity is no progress at all. Development only makes sense when it reaches every citizen, not just the privileged few. That is the essence of an inclusive society.
The PM has set the vision. Now the responsibility lies with the nation, from its institutions to policy-makers to the private sector and citizens to make it a reality.
