Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said Bangladesh wanted to transform the Bay of Bengal region into a zone of shared prosperity where countries would develop together, benefit equally from one another and their people would engage in meaningful cooperation.

‘We must turn our shared geography into shared prosperity,’ he said while addressing the opening session of the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026 in Dhaka.

The Centre for Governance Studies organised the event.

At the outset of his speech, Tarique thanked the CGS for organising the event and said the newly elected government had assumed office with a strong mandate from the people.

He said the government had a five-year action plan to implement that mandate, with priorities including protecting national interests, maintaining policy continuity, ensuring economic stability and carrying out institutional reforms.

‘Now is the time to move directly from commitments to implementation,’ he said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh was being developed as an attractive destination for investment and a strong manufacturing and investment hub. The government wanted to create employment in manufacturing, services and exports, he said, stressing the importance of policy certainty and continuity for investors.

Family, Farmer and Health Cards

Tarique said the government was prioritising the most disadvantaged people through a number of social protection programmes.

Under the Family Card scheme, financial assistance would be delivered to mothers in families, beginning with the poorest and most marginalised households.

The Farmer Card would connect farmers with government incentives, agricultural services and markets, while the Health Card would facilitate access to healthcare. Ultimately, the Universal Card would enable citizens to receive integrated government services through a single platform, he said.

100,000 healthcare workers

The prime minister said the government was working to recruit 100,000 healthcare workers to take primary healthcare services to people's doorsteps. Around 80 per cent of the workers would be women.

They would provide basic healthcare, health advice and referral services at the grassroots, with particular attention to maternal and child health.

Free uniforms, meals from Class I

Tarique said the government wanted to make learning relevant to students' lives rather than limiting education to obtaining certificates.

Culture, sports, values and ethics would receive greater importance in the curriculum, while students would have opportunities to learn a third language, he said.

The government would also expand technical and vocational education and provide free uniforms, schoolbags, midday meals and stipends from Class I. Free education for girls would be expanded up to the undergraduate level, he said.

Skills, AI and young people

Tarique said Bangladesh's large young population could become a major driver of national development if the country could provide the necessary skills and employment opportunities.

The government was focusing on language skills, technological transformation, artificial intelligence, innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups, he said.

‘We want our young people to compete on the global stage and turn brain drain into brain circulation,’ he said.

Agriculture at the centre

Describing agriculture as a foundation of Bangladesh's economy, Tarique said the government was working to make technology, irrigation, agricultural finance and market access more available to farmers.

Support would also be provided to fisheries, livestock and rural entrepreneurs, while agricultural processing and exports would be promoted to strengthen food security and the rural economy.

‘A strong rural economy can build a strong Bangladesh,’ he said.

20,000km waterways to be dredged

The prime minister said the government planned to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals and waterways over the next five years to strengthen water security and climate resilience.

The Padma Barrage project was being advanced for water conservation and management, while a Teesta master plan was being prepared, he said.

250m trees in five years

Tarique said the government had set a target of planting 250 million trees over the next five years.

The government was also expanding solar power and promoting recycling and environmentally friendly green factories.

He said 53 of the world's top 100 LEED-certified factories were now located in Bangladesh.

Human rights, rule of law

The prime minister said strong state institutions were essential for development and that the government was working to strengthen institutional transparency and accountability.

‘Human rights, democratic values and freedom of expression must be protected. The rule of law must apply equally to every citizen,’ he said.

He said the government wanted to establish an institutional culture in which state agencies genuinely served the people of Bangladesh.

International support for Rohingya repatriation

Tarique said Bangladesh continued to shoulder a major international responsibility by hosting nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees.

He said their voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation remained Bangladesh's main objective and called for continued international political support and funding.

Addressing the root causes of the crisis was also essential, he said.

‘The crisis originated in Myanmar, and its solution must also be found in Myanmar,’ he said.

Bay of Bengal offers huge potential

Tarique said the Bay of Bengal had shaped Bangladesh's fortunes for generations and that the country's geographic and strategic location provided opportunities to connect with the wider world through seaports, waterways and the coastal economy.

Shipping, fisheries, tourism, energy and regional supply chains offered significant potential, he said.

He called for deeper bilateral and multilateral engagement to turn the region's shared geography into shared prosperity.

There was scope for greater cooperation in trade, energy, education, technology, climate and maritime affairs, he said, adding that new markets could be opened and more opportunities created for young people.

Bangladesh to protect national interests

The prime minister said Bangladesh believed in dialogue, partnership and mutual respect and would protect its national interests and sovereignty while working positively with regional and global partners.

‘Our geography has brought us together, while closer people-to-people relations can take us much further,’ he said.

‘Peace and harmony are the foundations of shared prosperity and development,’ he said.

Concluding his address, Tarique said Bangladesh was ready to play its due role in building a Bay of Bengal region where countries could develop together, benefit equally and extend meaningful cooperation to their people.

Sun News/ rabbi