Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday called for deeper regional cooperation, stronger economic partnerships and mutual respect to transform the Bay of Bengal region into a hub of shared prosperity, stressing that Bangladesh is ready to play its due role in advancing regional and global development.

“Geography has brought us together, and we firmly believe that stronger people-to-people ties will take us much further,” he said while addressing the Bay of Bengal Conference 2026 in Dhaka, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh believes in dialogue, partnership and mutual respect while safeguarding its national interests and sovereignty and maintaining positive engagement with all regional and global partners.

He said the newly elected government, backed by a strong public mandate, had a five-year action plan focused on protecting national interests, ensuring policy continuity, maintaining economic stability and undertaking institutional reforms.

“We are now moving directly from commitment to implementation,” he said, adding that the government was working to make Bangladesh an attractive investment destination and a strong manufacturing and investment hub to generate employment across production, services and exports.

Tarique Rahman said policy certainty and long-term consistency were essential to attracting investment and sustaining economic growth.

Highlighting the government's social protection initiatives, he said the Family Card would provide financial assistance to mothers, beginning with the poorest and most marginalised households, while the Farmer Card would connect farmers with government incentives, agricultural services and markets. 

The Health Card would ensure access to healthcare, while the Universal Card would bring integrated government services under one umbrella.

The government is also working to recruit 100,000 healthcare workers, around 80 percent of whom will be women, to deliver primary healthcare, health advice and referral services at the grassroots level, with particular emphasis on maternal and child health, he said.

On education, the Prime Minister said the government aimed to create a joyful learning environment that would prepare students for real-life challenges, with greater emphasis on culture, sports, values and ethics, alongside opportunities to learn a third language.

He said free uniforms, schoolbags, midday meals and scholarships would be provided from the first grade, while the scope of free education for girls would be extended up to the undergraduate level. Technical and vocational education would also be expanded.

Describing the country's young population as a key driver of national progress, Rahman said the government was focusing on skills development, language proficiency, technology, artificial intelligence, innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups to expand employment opportunities and turn brain drain into brain circulation.

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the economy, he said, noting that the government was working to improve access to technology, irrigation, agricultural finance and markets while supporting fisheries, livestock and rural entrepreneurs. Agricultural processing and exports would also be promoted to strengthen food security and the rural economy.

The government has planned to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals and waterways over the next five years and is advancing the Padma Barrage project and formulating a comprehensive Teesta master plan to improve water management, support agriculture and strengthen climate resilience, he said.

Outlining the government's environmental commitments, Rahman said Bangladesh aimed to plant 250 million trees over the next five years and expand solar energy use. 

He also highlighted the country's progress in sustainable manufacturing, noting that 53 of the world's top 100 LEED-certified factories were located in Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister stressed that strong state institutions, transparency, accountability, human rights, democratic values, freedom of expression and the rule of law were essential for sustainable development.

He said the government was committed to building an institutional culture in which public institutions genuinely served the people.

On the Rohingya crisis, Rahman said Bangladesh continued to host around 1.2 million refugees and remained committed to ensuring their swift, voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar.

He called for sustained international political support and funding, stressing that the root causes of the crisis must be addressed in Myanmar, where the crisis originated and where it must ultimately be resolved.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the Bay of Bengal, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh's geographical location offered immense opportunities in maritime trade, shipping, fisheries, tourism, energy and regional supply chains.

He said the region could unlock its shared potential through deeper bilateral and multilateral engagement, particularly in trade, energy, education, technology, climate action and the maritime sector.

“We can open up new markets and create greater opportunities for our young people,” he said, emphasising that stronger partnerships should be based on equality, fairness and justice.

Tarique Rahman said the Bay of Bengal should emerge as a region where all countries could grow together, enjoy mutual benefits and expand meaningful cooperation for the well-being of their people.

“Bangladesh is fully prepared to play its due role in this regard,” he said, calling for peace, harmony and collective efforts as the foundations of shared prosperity and development.