Tarique Rahman’s February 18, 2026 Speech English Transcript

Tarique Rahman delivered this address to the nation on February 18, 2026. Full transcript is below:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Dear countrymen, Assalamu Alaikum.

At the very beginning, I express my gratitude to Almighty Allah.

At the cost of the lives of thousands of martyrs, we have been able to protect the independence and sovereignty of our country and its people.

In a Bangladesh free from subservience, a new government, accountable to the people and elected by the votes of the people, has begun its journey.

On this occasion, as we embark on the path of re-establishing democracy and human rights in the country, I extend my greetings and sincere congratulations to the people of Bangladesh.

It is because of our freedom-loving and democratic people that the opportunity has once again been created to re-establish human rights, respect and dignity in the country.

I want to convey a message to the people:

Regardless of party, opinion, religion or caste, whether Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian, whether living in the hills or the plains, this country belongs to all of us.

We want to transform this country into a safe land for every single citizen.

Establishing a self-reliant, safe, humane and democratic Bangladesh is the goal of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government.

Governance, law and order, and rule of law

Dear countrymen, the new government has begun its journey amid a broken economy devastated by corruption and misrule during the fascist period, a weak governance structure and a deteriorating law and order situation.

Improving law and order and strictly controlling corruption in order to restore peace and security in the minds of the people are among the primary priorities of our government.

The current government has also identified the nationwide spread of gambling and drugs as one of the major causes of the deterioration in law and order.

Therefore, law enforcement agencies are taking all necessary strict measures to control gambling and drugs.

The government is taking the strongest possible initiatives to ensure peace and security in public life.

Every constitutional, public and private institution of the country will operate according to established policies and rules.

Not partisan or political influence, power or coercion, but the rule of law will be the final word in governing the state.

Sanctity of Ramadan and market syndicates

Dear countrymen, the holy month of Ramadan begins across the country tomorrow.

I extend my greetings to the people on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is a month of self-purification.

If we understand the true meaning of the term “self-purification,” then the suffering of the people should not increase during this month.

Although there is a tendency among some people to seek higher profits in business during Ramadan, my humble appeal is this:

To protect the sanctity of Ramadan, do not turn this month into a month of excessive profiteering.

Businessmen, please be careful to ensure that commodity prices do not move beyond the reach of ordinary people.

At the cost of thousands of lives, and by overthrowing a mafia syndicate, we have assumed responsibility for governing the state with a commitment to establish the rights of the people in both the state and the government.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party government is determined to break all syndicates of injustice and irregularity in every sector, Insha’Allah.

The current government’s position toward all small, medium and large businesses is simple and clear.

The government wants to take the necessary measures while protecting the interests of both businesses and ordinary consumers.

Therefore, the government is ready to listen to any suggestions or complaints you may have regarding what initiatives should be taken to keep the market situation under control and protect the interests of both buyers and sellers.

Buyer, seller, consumer, this government is everyone’s government.

This government is your government.

You have given this government the responsibility of governing the state through your votes.

You are the strength of this government.

Utility services during Ramadan and leadership by example

Dear countrymen, during the holy month of Ramadan, people who are fasting naturally expect an uninterrupted supply of gas, water and electricity, particularly during Iftar, Taraweeh and Sehri.

To ensure this, I have already issued instructions to the relevant authorities.

Preventing waste and practicing austerity are responsibilities of faith for every Muslim.

I believe that being conscious about unnecessary or excessive consumption of gas, electricity and water in offices and courts is also part of worship.

Before calling upon public and private officers, employees and the general public to practice austerity, I wanted to set an example through the government’s ministers and Bangladesh Nationalist Party members of Parliament.

At the first meeting of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party parliamentary party, we decided that no member of Parliament elected from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party will import a tax-free vehicle using government facilities or accept government plot benefits.

I told you before that if given the opportunity to run the state, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government would follow the ideals of justice and fairness demonstrated by the Holy Prophet.

I believe this decision of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party parliamentary party is one of the important reflections of that ideal of fairness.

Decongesting Dhaka and overhauling the railway system

Dear countrymen, traffic congestion in the divisional cities, especially in the capital, Dhaka, has become extremely difficult to control.

There is no end to the suffering of people in markets, public places and offices.

If the suffering people experience in different aspects of daily life is not reduced, a sense of comfort will not return to the public mind.

It has become urgent to adopt alternative measures to reduce population pressure on the capital.

With the objective of enabling people to travel easily and on time to offices, courts, businesses and places of work while continuing to live in their own districts or homes, initiatives are being taken to overhaul the railway communication system across the country.

As part of this plan, the activities of the ministries responsible for railways, shipping, road transport and bridges are first being reorganized and coordinated.

We believe that if railway transportation can be made easy, affordable and safe throughout the country, it will reduce people’s dependence on cities and urban centers.

At the same time, it will help improve the environment.

Developing skilled youth and confronting the age of artificial intelligence

Dear countrymen, there is no shortage of problems around us.

But alongside those problems, there is also no shortage of possibilities.

If we can transform our large population into a skilled workforce, then that population will become our human resource.

If we can develop our skills, then not only Bangladesh but the global employment market will be open to us.

With the advancement of information technology, the world has now entered the age of artificial intelligence.

To survive with dignity and integrity in this competitive technological world, every one of us must become proficient in some subject or skill.

To the crores of students and young people across the country, I want to say this:

The government is fully prepared to provide every possible form of assistance to help you develop yourselves as qualified individuals in merit, knowledge and science.

The current government has begun its journey with a specific commitment to ensuring employment opportunities and a favorable working environment.

Fulfilling commitments to the people

Dear countrymen, after returning to the country following a long absence of 18 years, I said on December 25 last year:

“I have a plan.”

I have a plan for the country and for its people.

Before the national election on February 12, I traveled to different parts of the country and presented many aspects of that plan and those policies before you.

You voted for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the party established by the Proclaimer of Independence, and gave us responsibility for governing the state.

You have given us the opportunity to implement those plans.

Now that we have received that opportunity, the responsibility of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government is to fulfill all of our commitments.

We have already begun working to implement our plans and promises, Insha’Allah.

As we move forward on this journey of fulfilling those commitments, we expect your continued support in the days ahead.

Equal rights for every citizen

Dear countrymen, as the head of government, I would like to draw your attention to one important matter.

Whether you voted for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and gave it the opportunity to form the new government, whether you did not vote for us, or whether you did not vote for anyone, everyone has equal rights under this government.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party government believes that party affiliation, opinion, religion and philosophy belong to the individual.

But the state belongs to everyone.

In this country and in this state, as Bangladeshis, the rights of every single citizen, yours, mine and everyone else’s, are equal.

Dear countrymen, may Allah keep us all safe and healthy.

May Allah grant us the ability to implement all of our positive plans.

Placing this prayer before Allah at the auspicious beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, I conclude my speech.

Allah Hafez.

Bangladesh Zindabad.

Bangla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlwjktzzSjI