Stating that public interests must be protected through dialogue and consultation with the people, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that establishing a welfare state and society is the government's current commitment to the people.

To fulfill this pledge, the government is working tirelessly with the motto "Bangladesh First - Bangladesh for Everyone."

He made these remarks in a message issued on Monday (September 14) on the occasion of International Democracy Day, which is observed on Tuesday (September 15).

The core theme of this year's International Democracy Day is "Raising Hands and Voices—Fostering Agency and Ownership through Deliberative Democracy."

In his message, the Prime Minister extended sincere greetings to pro-democracy people across Bangladesh and the world on the occasion of the day and expressed support for all their democratic and human rights.

Tarique Rahman said that the core philosophy of democracy is to establish freedom of speech and expression, equality, human dignity, and social justice for people in the state and society.

Democratic rights do not simply mean exercising the right to vote; rather, to make democracy sustainable and establish it on an institutional foundation, it is essential to ensure the political and economic empowerment of the people.

To that end, the government is firmly resolved to restore the religious, political, social, and cultural rights of the people in the country.

Noting that people's democratic rights have been usurped at various times in Bangladesh since independence and that democracy has been murdered, the Prime Minister said that the Proclaimer of Bangladesh's Independence, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, introduced multi-party democracy in the country and restored freedom of speech, expression, and the press.

He added that fascist rule and exploitation were re-established in the country by stripping away all democratic and political rights of the people.

Through a continuum of struggles spanning over a decade and a half, heroic students and masses put an end to fascist rule through a bloody mass uprising.

Mentioning that the BNP has consistently stood in favor of democracy from every position, whether in government or in opposition, he noted that the people have entrusted the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) with the responsibility of running the state through a free, fair, and impartial election in a fascism-free Bangladesh.

Tarique Rahman said,

"We want to build a Bangladesh where the prosperity and self-reliance of future generations, an inclusive and liberal political environment, and social stability and justice are ensured."

Finally, in his message, he paid tribute to the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh and the world on International Democracy Day.