Bismillahir-Rahmanihir-Rahim
My greetings to my dear countrymen, children, teenagers, young men and women, students, elders, old men and women. Assalamu Alaikum.
Today, March 25, is a day of massacre that is stained in the history of human civilization. On this night in 1971, the Pakistani occupying forces brutally opened fire on innocent, unarmed, sleeping Bengalis and killed thousands of people. Since March 25, the people of this country have been building armed resistance. Bangladesh became independent through a 9-month war.
On the eve of the Great Independence Day, I remember with deep respect the heroic martyrs of the great liberation war; in exchange for whose lives we got an independent and sovereign Bangladesh. The sacrifices of millions of martyrs and two hundred thousand oppressed women in the bloody 9-month war have given birth to an independent land called Bangladesh on the world map. My salute to these heroes of the liberation war.
Along with this, I respectfully salute the thousands of martyrs and injured who were killed in the July 24 uprising, who stood up against discrimination, exploitation, torture and oppression, on behalf of the entire nation. We want to utilize the opportunity that the July mass uprising has given us to fulfill our dream of building a discrimination-free Bangladesh.
Dear countrymen,
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. Along with this, I extend my advance greetings to all of you on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid Mubarak. I hope that this Eid will be memorable and joyful.
Since assuming office, the current government has taken strong measures to control the prices of commodities. The big challenge during Ramadan and Eid was to rein in the prices of goods and ensure power supply. We have made every effort to ensure that the prices of any product do not increase and that power supply is not disrupted during this Ramadan.
We have taken all kinds of measures to strictly prevent supply chain disruptions throughout the month of Ramadan. Reports have come from all parts of the country that the prices of goods have decreased compared to the previous one this Ramadan; the people have found relief. This effort to control prices will continue.
Dear countrymen,
You were the victims of the terrible loot that Sheikh Hasina carried out in the last 16 years. When they fled in the face of the student uprising, they left behind a devastated economy. After taking charge in this situation, the interim government has taken various initiatives to restore the economy.
Discipline has returned to the banking sector, and other economic indicators are gradually starting to return to a positive trend. The biggest challenge for this government is inflation. Inflation fell to 9.32 percent in February, the lowest in 22 months. We expect it to fall below 8 percent by June.
Our expatriate brothers and sisters have brought relief to the country’s devastated economy. Remittances have been increasing steadily since the interim government took office. In February, remittance flows set a record, increasing by almost 25 percent to $2.5 billion. Remittance warriors are the heroes of our country’s economy. It is our responsibility to ease the procedural issues for them. We have taken measures to ensure that they do not suffer, that the embassy functions properly. We are working to give them the right to vote in the next elections.
During the rule of the fugitive government, the country’s banks were taken over like pirates. They converted depositors’ money into their own personal money.
One of the tasks of the interim government was to restore confidence in the banking system, to establish rules and order by protecting the interests of depositors, and to establish credibility in the accounts.
Confidence has been established in the banking system. As a result, order has been restored in the economy, which was a very important achievement of the interim government.
We know that $234 billion has been laundered in the last 15 years during the looting spree of the previous government. It is also important to know how much money was laundered. There were innovative methods. One method of laundering shocked everyone. This was done in the name of sending money to a child studying abroad. He sent $33 million, or about 400 crore taka, through official banking channels for the expenses of one semester, that is, three months, for the child’s education. I don’t think there is any limit to what is a more outrageous method of laundering than this. When looting is established in place of laws, rules, and policies, everything is possible. International efforts have already been intensified to bring these money launderers to justice.
Dear countrymen,
The interim government is holding regular meetings with leading investors from different countries of the world. They are very interested in investing in the current system in Bangladesh. I hope that you will see new foreign investments in the country as soon as possible.
Since the government took office, exports to the country have increased by 13 percent. Container handling increased by 7 percent in January. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority has already started working to resolve common problems faced by investors, including licensing requirements and repatriation laws.
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority is holding a four-day international investment conference in Dhaka next month, and many world-renowned investors will participate in it.
DP World, Singapore PSA, AP Moller Maersk have already proposed investments worth billions of dollars.
Since the interim government took office, all the governments of the world have spontaneously extended their hand of friendship to us.
It started at the annual meeting of the United Nations last September. Do you remember how the heads of government of the world have come forward to meet us with interest. Since then, I have been to any conference, and I have seen how the interest of international leaders is gradually increasing.
In January, I went to Davos, Switzerland. I had to participate in 47 separate events at this conference. I met with heads of government, ministers, world trade leaders, the UN Secretary-General, and heads of various UN agencies from different countries. They have expressed sincere interest in standing by us.
Recently, I went to the United Arab Emirates. They closed our visas during the previous government. We are trying to open the doors of visas for that country. They have assured that they will complete all the formalities from their side and open the visa doors. I hope it will open soon.
I have proposed to the United Arab Emirates to set up an industrial zone in our country to build industries. They have expressed interest in this matter. They will start with two projects in the industrial zone. For this, talks have started.
First, they will set up a halal meat processing factory to supply the Muslim world. Then they will set up a factory for fish processing. They have also expressed interest in managing our new sea port.
Dear countrymen,
One of our goals is to take Bangladesh to a unique height on the world map. To this end, we have expressed our interest in joining ASEAN as a member. Malaysia has assumed the responsibility of ASEAN chairmanship since the beginning of this year. We have discussed this matter with the Honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim. He supported our application and invited me to visit Malaysia. I accepted this invitation.
Malaysia has taken the responsibility of organizing the UN conference to resolve the Rohingya problem. They are working sincerely to resolve all the problems that arose in bringing workers from our country.
Tomorrow I am going to China on a four-day visit. I will meet with President Xi Jinping. I will also meet with CEOs of major Chinese businesses.
The world’s largest Chinese solar panel manufacturer Longji has expressed interest in setting up a factory in Bangladesh. We are working with them.
In addition, technical assistance, medical assistance, low-cost treatment and other issues will be discussed. They want to import mangoes, jackfruit and guava from our country. This will start very soon. Through this visit, the relations between our two countries will become closer.
I have always said that we are a very fortunate nation, due to our location on the world map. If Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan – these four countries of South Asia – can build a joint economy together, all four countries will benefit. Nepal and Bhutan are very interested in providing us with hydropower, and we are also interested in receiving it. There is no alternative to this to build an industrial zone in Bangladesh.
We have a vast ocean. Due to its geographical location, it has brought us great economic opportunities. A long coastline from Kumira to Teknaf. If many modern technology-rich international standard seaports, industrial factories, and export processing areas are established continuously along this long coastline, the future of the entire economic region can change rapidly.
If we can bring hydropower from Nepal, our dependence on fossil fuels will decrease. Currently, the world is aware of protecting the environment. They are giving this the highest priority. If we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and find environmentally friendly alternatives, we can attract more attention from foreign investors.
In view of the country’s growing electricity demand, we have emphasized on completing the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant on time. The Director General of Rosatom told me that the power plant will be put into operation on a trial basis soon.
Our products, the products of the world. These products will go to Nepal, Bhutan, and the Seven Sisters of India. The products of our neighbors will come here, reach the whole world, in this way it will stand as a profitable economic zone. And Bangladesh will play an important role in this region.
The biggest problem of Bangladesh is unlimited corruption. The authoritarian government has taken this corruption to the top of the world. As a result of corruption, not only is there an incredible increase in costs in everything, but as a result, all the arrangements of the government and the people are distorted. The goals of the government, policies, institutional arrangements, responsibilities of government officials, everything written on paper becomes meaningless. The country runs on unwritten arrangements. The government has to run, businessmen have to run, industrialists have to run, investors have to run, all the citizens of the country have to run according to these unwritten rules.
Citizens have to strive to become proficient in the art of survival by dealing with this invisible world. To survive and achieve success in daily life, a new language has to be mastered. What words are being said around, what is being written on paper – one has to quickly translate in one’s mind and understand its meaning, otherwise one cannot make daily decisions. The biggest difficulty is that there is no dictionary for it. Because its meaning constantly changes depending on the individual, place, and situation.
The whole world has understood that we as a nation do not carry the identity of honesty. This is not only a matter of national disgrace, but it is a suicidal issue in international trade. Like the countrymen, the international community also wants us to be free from corruption, because they want to expand trade and commerce with us. If we cannot be free from corruption, no trade and commerce will work. Bangladesh has no progress unless it is free from corruption.
The interim government is giving top priority to making all work corruption-free. In addition to trying to keep this government’s tenure free of corruption, we are committed to ensuring that the citizens of the country are free from government-sponsored corruption in the coming days as well.
We are giving importance to one thing in preventing corruption and harassment. No citizen should have to physically appear in any government office for daily, monthly or annual routine work with the government. As part of the prevention of corruption, it has been decided to introduce e-filing in all government offices.
If the e-filing system is introduced, corruption will decrease. This will make it easy to know which file is stuck on which desk in which office.
The government is working to introduce online services in as many government programs as possible. Helpless citizens are forced to pay incredible amounts of money to get various government services.
We are determined to save citizens from having to deal with money transactions and suffering.
Write to us or e-mail us with suggestions on how to make the process of getting services online easier. If you or anyone in your family wants to provide this service commercially, you can provide this service from anywhere in the world after taking training.
During the previous government, false cases were chosen as a tool to suppress dissent. After scrutinizing at various stages, we have taken the initiative to withdraw these harassment cases. Of the political harassment cases filed during the previous fascist government, 6,295 cases have been recommended for withdrawal across the country so far. All other harassment cases are also being withdrawn gradually.
In addition, 413 cases related to speech offenses pending under the Cyber Security Act have been withdrawn so far. This law is being repealed immediately and a citizen-friendly Cyber Security Act is being enacted.
We are also taking legal steps to prevent human suffering. There is no need to go to the police station to sign while filing a GD. It can be done online. Necessary instructions have been given in this regard. Harassment of expatriate Bangladeshis has been reduced through amendments to the Power of Attorney Rules. In light of the revised rules, even if a person of Bangladeshi origin does not have a Bangladeshi passport, he or she can execute a power of attorney from abroad only if he or she has a No Visa Required sticker in his or her passport or a birth certificate or national identity card.
After the government decision and necessary measures were taken, the entire process of buying air tickets has been taken online, resulting in a reduction of 50 to 75 percent in the price of air tickets. Especially, expatriate brothers and sisters in the Middle East are getting relief from this. In addition, ticket prices on other airlines have also decreased.
The government has taken the initiative to digitalize land services to provide harassment-free and corruption-free services to citizens. As part of this, the Ministry of Land has launched the program of paying land rent, registration, deposit cancellation, providing certified copies of Khatian or Parcha and Mouza maps or designs online from home.
This method will end suffering, opacity and corruption. Currently, this program has been launched on a trial basis across the country. These will be gradually made more people-friendly and made permanent.
The aim will be to gradually take all these responsibilities from the hands of the government and hand them over to service providers or institutions. Village school-college graduates and housewives will provide these services from their homes across the country, and many will become famous for their achievements. They will provide services to customers across the country from their own villages.
As per the recommendations of the Revenue Reform Commission, it has been decided to abolish the National Board of Revenue. Two separate departments are being created in its place. One is the Policy Formulation Department or the National Revenue Policy Board, and the other is the Implementation Department or the National Revenue Collection Department.
As a result, the government’s favorite people will no longer get the opportunity to evade revenue worth thousands of crores of taka. I hope that those who come to power in the future will also maintain this policy.
The present era is the era of technology. The era of creativity. There are 170 million men and women in our country, of which the youth are the vast majority. Bangladesh is the eighth largest country in terms of human resources. If these young people get the opportunity to express their creativity at the same time, our country will quickly move to the center of the world market like a flood. The main goal of our government is to remove obstacles in front of this huge group of young people. Technology is creating opportunities for us. We have quickly engaged ourselves in the task of taking advantage of this opportunity. We have engaged ourselves in the task of using technology in such a way that the government immediately presents its services to the citizens at the tip of the finger of the citizen. To ensure that, we want to provide those services through technology, not through government offices.
We have already canceled the police verification rule to get a passport. As a result, citizens are now getting passport services more easily than before. After canceling the rule of getting a police report, so far 70 thousand new passports, which were stuck waiting for a long time to come from the police report, have been quickly delivered to the applicants.
To make it easier to obtain a passport, we have abolished the old procedure and started introducing electronic passports. As a result, passports are being issued quickly.
Home delivery of e-passports is being made possible within the country. We are trying to ensure that everyone can get their passports sitting at home in the future. It is heartening to see the officials responsible for issuing passports coming forward with great enthusiasm to bring about these changes quickly.
Dear countrymen,
Hajj is one of the most profound spiritual journeys for Muslims. They wait for it their entire lives. Bangladeshi pilgrims often face various challenges while performing the holy Hajj—language barriers, health risks, overcrowding, administrative complications, and logistical problems. To make the Hajj experience smooth and safe, the interim government has developed a mobile app that will provide necessary assistance to the esteemed pilgrims before, during, and after their return. This app will provide real-time instructions and assistance in Bengali, ensure financial transactions in local currencies abroad through a government-backed special debit card, and have a luggage tracking system to ensure that luggage is not lost.
Through mobile phones, pilgrims will be able to know the details of the day’s activities and travel every day, remind them of the prayers to be recited on the day, and describe the history of the holy places they will visit with pictures. If the pilgrims have any questions, they will call the call center and get answers to those questions. If they feel unwell, they will be put in touch with a doctor. If the respected pilgrims have any suggestions, they can write them on the advice page.
All measures will be put in place so that the daily hassles of travel do not defeat the main goal of Hajj.
Dear countrymen,
You have heard that I spoke to Starlink founder and the world’s top billionaire SpaceX and Tesla owner Elon Musk over the phone and called for the start of Starlink operations in Bangladesh. Accordingly, the company’s representatives are now organizing to start their operations in Bangladesh. The work of finalizing the commercial agreement with them is underway within three months.
Low-cost high-speed internet through Starlink will bring a revolution in the digital world of Bangladesh. If the Starlink service is launched, every village, island, and remote mountainous area of the country will come under the umbrella of ultra-high-speed internet service. If Starlink is launched, no government in the future will have any opportunity to shut down internet service and lock people in information. World-class education, healthcare, and participation of all citizens in the economic sector can be ensured in every region of Bangladesh. No matter where our new generation lives in the remotest part of the country, they will have the opportunity to develop as global citizens.
The government has formulated the ‘Youth Entrepreneurship Policy 2025’. Its aim will be to empower young men and women as the main drivers of social, economic, and environmental progress. This policy will be helpful in creating successful entrepreneurs as a means to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The contribution of young entrepreneurs in the social and economic sectors will be recognized.
Dear countrymen,
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Bangladesh a few days ago. I accompanied him to the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. We had Iftar with 100,000 Rohingya children, adolescents, women, and men living in the camps.
Agreeing to our proposal, preparations are being made to organize a separate session on the Rohingya crisis at the UN General Assembly next September. Malaysia and Finland have come forward to jointly host this conference. In addition, I have called on former acting Prime Minister of Australia Julie Bishop to play a key role in this important meeting. She has accepted my proposal.
During her visit to Bangladesh, the UN Secretary-General held separate meetings with members of the National Consensus Commission, political party leaders, and youth. In the meeting, everyone told the UN Secretary-General about their dream of building a ‘new Bangladesh’.
As you know, the description of the oppression of the fallen dictatorship has been revealed in the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. They have published a detailed report after thoroughly investigating the repression and killings carried out by the Sheikh Hasina government and the Awami League on students, workers and the public in Bangladesh in July-August.
This report clearly reveals that Sheikh Hasina herself ordered security forces to kill protesters. The previous government, the Awami League and its allied groups and organizations were involved in systematic and serious human rights violations. The report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights states that about 1,400 people were killed during the protests. About 13 percent of them were children. Being at the forefront of the protests, our July girls were attacked by security forces and Awami League supporters, and even sexually abused.
Everyone’s hair stood on end after reading the UN report. What horror! How can a prime minister order to hide the bodies after killing unarmed people in his own country! He has surpassed all the cruelty in the world to hold on to power—this is what the UN report has revealed.
We welcome this report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The interim government is seriously considering the recommendations made in the report.
I would like to assure you that those who were involved in genocide, those who killed people indiscriminately, and those who are already recognized by the world as murderers will be tried on the soil of this country.
Dear countrymen,
You know that since the interim government took office, there has been a festival of rumors in the media and social media. In order to destabilize the country, attempts are being made to mislead the people by spreading false information one after another. Rumors are being spread in all sorts of innovative ways. One picture is being added to another picture, events are being made into photo cards, and events in other countries are being circulated as events in this country and creating a stir on social media. As the elections approach, its form will continue to become more dangerous. You all know who is behind it and why.
We have sought the cooperation of the United Nations to stop the spread of these rumors and false information. The UN Secretary-General has assured us of his cooperation in dealing with it.
I would like to remind the countrymen that the first phase of the July Uprising has been successfully completed. With the completion of the first phase, the second phase of the uprising has begun. We must always remember that we are in a state of war. “Rumors” are the biggest tool of the defeated forces against this July Uprising. Whenever you see rumors, keep searching for the source of the rumors. Do not neglect rumors. Many experienced military experts are working day and night behind these rumors, unlimited money is being invested behind them. Its main goal is to thwart the July Uprising. We will not let them fail.
Our overall unity is fueling the fire of the fugitive forces. They want to break this unity. You will not be able to sense their innovative tactics. You will not understand when you have become a puppet in their game.
We have to stop these rumors with awareness and overall unity. The conspiracy of the fugitive evil forces must be foiled.
Dear countrymen,
You know that the National Consensus Commission has already started its work. Letters have been sent to 38 political parties with 166 recommendations and full reports from the 6 reform commissions. Meetings have already started with the political parties. The political parties of the country have responded very positively to the reform work, they are expressing their opinions. They are telling which political parties have agreed with which reform proposals, and which they have disagreed with. It is a very happy thing for our nation that every political party is in favor of the reform.
The work of taking the opinions of all political parties through the Consensus Commission is now underway. The aim of the commission is to identify all the issues on which the political parties will agree and prepare a list of them. To get the signatures of the parties that have agreed on it. This list will be the July Charter or July Charter.
Our responsibility is to present the entire process transparently before the nation and organize elections after the process.
Regarding the elections, I have said before, and I repeat, the elections will be held between December this year and June next year.
We want the next election to be the most free, fair and acceptable election in the history of Bangladesh. For this, the Election Commission has started making all kinds of preparations. I hope that the political parties will start preparing for the election with great enthusiasm and enthusiasm.
Dear citizens,
The women of our country have been moving forward little by little, overcoming many obstacles for many years through a long movement. Even after 54 years of independence, the women of this country are victims of economic, political and social discrimination.
Among all the movements and struggles that have taken place in the history of Bangladesh so far, the participation of women in the July mass uprising was the highest. Women played an adventurous role in the mass uprising. They have taken a pledge to push the old away and lay the foundation for the new. They have talked about comprehensive reforms. They have talked about strengthening the role of women everywhere.
I think the July mass uprising has changed the perspective of Bangladesh. We want the position of women to change positively after July. We want to think about Bangladesh anew. And in this new thinking, we want the position of women to be given the highest priority.
All family members, neighbors, religious institutions, schools—you should ensure that there is no discrimination between boys and girls from your respective positions. Let us all work together to ensure a healthy environment for children in the new Bangladesh.
The women who participated in the July Uprising are determined to establish their rights. We all need to work together to identify the existing inequalities in the country and prevent violence against women and eliminate discrimination.
It is necessary to build a social movement against those who hold hateful words against women and the tendency to belittle women. Modern technology has given us the great power to break all kinds of barriers. No matter how strong or how high that barrier is. We must start using technology to bridge all distances.
The police have launched a hotline number for the protection of women. Short codes are being introduced by the government. 100% women workers are being hired as call takers; So that we can speak freely.
The Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Act has been amended. The investigation and trial time of these cases has been reduced, and obstacles to delayed trials are being removed. Work is underway to set up DNA labs in Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi as well. Many new judges are being appointed very quickly through the Special Judicial Service Commission. Provisions are being made to set up separate special tribunals so that child victims get justice quickly.
Like everyone in the country, I am also very happy that this time the women’s football team has become the champion in South Asia. In the ‘Youth Festival 2025’ organized across the country, 2.74 million girls from different regions took part in about 3,000 sports and cultural activities. There was universal participation from everyone, including the underprivileged and privileged regions of the country, marginalized communities and young people from 21 ethnic groups.
One of the goals of this festival was to build unity among the youth, promote the principle of cooperation and develop them as entrepreneurs so that they can become self-reliant and become the country’s assets. We have announced to celebrate this festival of youth throughout the year. In this festival, we request all the young and old people of all the areas, villages, upazilas, cities, ports and schools, colleges, madrasas, government and private institutions to come forward with various creative programs. We are calling on everyone to especially encourage girls to join this festival in every area. I am waiting with interest to know where and how it is being celebrated. We will be ready to give awards to the best village, best upazila, best city, best institution, best person in the country at different levels.
Along with women’s rights, the civil rights of minorities must be remembered with equal importance. The civil rights of ethnic groups in the plains and hills. Neglecting any civil right will create a great crisis for this nation. As citizens, we must ensure that none of us can be accused of taking away the rights of other citizens. Only then will a truly new Bangladesh be born.
I conclude my speech by greeting everyone once again.
Assalamu Alaikum.
I congratulate everyone on Independence Day once again.
May the infinite mercy of Allah Almighty be upon us in the holy month of Ramadan. I pray that Allah Almighty accepts the prayers of all His servants on this holy night of Shab-e-Qadr.
At the same time, I wish everyone a happy Eid. May you go to your respective homes with your families without any hindrance and with joy on Eid. May you visit the graves of your relatives. May you inquire about the poor families, think about their future, and introduce them to your children. I urge you to pray to Allah so that everyone, regardless of party affiliation, remains firmly united despite all the instigations of the defeated forces in the Eid congregation.
May everyone’s life be fruitful and joyful.
May Allah Almighty help us.
Allah is the Preserver.
