Speech of the Chief Adviser to the Nation on the occasion of Independence Day and Eid-ul-Fitr

Dear fellow citizens, children, adolescents, youth, students, the elderly, and all men and women, I greet you all with my salutation. Assalamu Alaikum.

Today, 25th March, is a day marked by a brutal massacre in the history of human civilisation. On this very night in 1971, the Pakistani occupying forces ruthlessly opened fire on innocent, unarmed, and sleeping Bengalis, killing thousands. From the night of 25th March, the people of this country began to organise armed resistance. Through nine months of war, Bangladesh gained its independence.

On the eve of this Independence Day, I pay my deepest respects to the brave martyrs of the Liberation War, whose sacrifice has earned us an independent and sovereign Bangladesh. The sacrifices of millions of martyrs and two hundred thousand tortured women gave birth to an independent land on the world map named Bangladesh. My salute to the heroes of the Liberation War.

At the same time, I pay my respectful salute to the thousands of martyrs and the injured from the July Uprising, who stood bravely against discrimination, exploitation, persecution, and oppression. The July uprising has provided us with the opportunity to realise the dream of building a Bangladesh free from inequality, and we wish to seize that opportunity.

Dear fellow citizens,

I extend my greetings to all of you on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. At the same time, I offer my early greetings for Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid Mubarak. I pray that this Eid is memorably joyous for all of you.

Since the current government took office, significant measures have been taken to control the prices of goods. One of the major challenges during Ramadan and Eid has been to control the prices of commodities and ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply. We have made the utmost efforts to prevent any price hikes and ensure that electricity supply remains unaffected during this Ramadan.

Throughout Ramadan, we took strict measures to overcome any supply chain disruptions. Reports from all over the country indicate that the prices of goods during this Ramadan have decreased compared to previous years, and the people were relieved. Price control measures will remain in effect.

Dear fellow citizens,

Over the last 16 years, you were victims of the horrific plundering carried out by Sheikh Hasina’s government. In the face of the student movement’s uprising, they fled, leaving behind a shattered economy. In this context, the interim government has taken various steps to revive the economy.

Discipline has been restored in the banking sector, and gradually, other economic indicators are beginning to show positive trends. Inflation is the most significant challenge this government faces.

In February, inflation dropped to below 9.32%, the lowest in 22 months. We hope it will fall below 8% by June.

Our expatriate brothers and sisters have brought relief to the country’s devastated economy. Since the interim government took over, remittance inflows have steadily increased. In February, remittance flows set a record, increasing by nearly 25%, reaching $2.5 billion. The remittance warriors are the unsung heroes of our economy. It is our responsibility to simplify the procedural aspects for them. We have taken steps to ensure they do not suffer hardships and that the embassies function properly. We are also working to ensure that they can exercise their voting rights in the upcoming elections.

During the tenure of the previous government, banks in the country, just like shore grabbing, were seized. Depositors’ money was converted into personal funds by them.

One of the main objectives of the interim government has been to restore trust in the banking system, protect the interests of depositors, and establish discipline in financial records. A major achievement of the interim government was the restoration of trust in the banking system, fostering economic discipline.

In the grand plunder of the last government, $234 billion was siphoned off over the last 15 years – this we know. The methods used to siphon off this money are also matters of concern. Some of the methods were extraordinarily ingenious. One method of plunder left everyone dumbfounded. It involved sending money to children studying abroad under the pretext of their education. Official banking channels were used to send $33.3 million (about 4 billion Bangladeshi Taka) for the cost of one semester (three months). There is no limit to such outrageous methods of money laundering. When plunder becomes the norm in place of law, rules, and policies, anything becomes possible. International efforts are already being intensified to bring these money launderers under the purview of the law.

Dear fellow citizens,

The interim government is regularly meeting with top investors from various countries around the world. They are very interested in investing in Bangladesh’s current system. I hope that you will soon witness new foreign investments in the country in the shortest possible time.

Since the government took office, exports have increased by 13%. In January, container handling increased by 7%. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has already begun working on addressing common problems faced by investors, such as licensing requirements and repatriation laws.

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority will hold a four-day international investment conference in Dhaka next month, with many world-renowned investors participating.

Already, DP World, Singapore PSA, and A.P. Moller Maersk have made investment proposals worth several billion dollars.

Since the interim government took office, governments worldwide have readily offered their friendship. This began last September at the United Nations’ annual meeting. You may remember how world leaders eagerly approached us for meetings. Since then, at every conference, I have seen how the interest of international leaders in our country has continued to grow.

In January, I attended the Davos conference in Switzerland. I participated in 47 separate events at this conference. I had meetings with heads of governments, ministers, global trade leaders, the UN Secretary-General, and heads of various UN agencies. They expressed sincere interest in supporting us.

Recently, I visited the United Arab Emirates, which had previously closed our visa access during the past government. We are working to reopen the doors of their country for our citizens. They have assured us that all formalities will be completed from their side, and visa access will be reopened. I am hopeful that this will happen soon.

I have proposed to the UAE to establish an industrial zone in our country to build factories. They have shown interest in this proposal. They will start by establishing two factories in the industrial zone. Discussions are already underway.

The first factory will process halal meat for the Muslim world. The second will be for fish processing. They have also expressed interest in operating our new seaport.

Dear fellow citizens,

One of our main goals is to take Bangladesh to unprecedented heights on the world map. To this end, we have expressed our interest in joining ASEAN. At the beginning of this year, Malaysia took over the chairmanship of ASEAN. I have discussed this matter with Malaysia’s Honourable Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who has expressed support for our application and has invited me to visit Malaysia. I have accepted this invitation.

Malaysia has taken the responsibility of organising a UN conference to solve the Rohingya issue. They are sincerely working to resolve all the issues related to sending workers from our country.

Tomorrow, I will be leaving for China on a four-day visit. I will have a meeting with President Xi Jinping, as well as with the CEOs of major Chinese business corporations.

The world’s largest Chinese solar panel manufacturing company, LONGi, has expressed interest in setting up a factory in Bangladesh. We are working with them.

Additionally, we will discuss technical assistance, medical support, affordable healthcare, and other issues. They also wish to import mangoes, jackfruit, and guavas from our country. This will begin very soon. Through this visit, our two countries’ relationship will become even closer.

I have always said that we are a fortunate nation, given our position on the world map. Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Bhutan—if these four countries of South Asia can create a joint economy, all four nations will benefit. Nepal and Bhutan are very eager to supply us with hydropower, and we are equally interested in receiving it. There is no alternative to this for building Bangladesh’s industrial zones.

We have an expansive ocean. Our geographical location has brought vast economic opportunities. From Kimura to Matarbari, the long coastal land provides an excellent opportunity for building modern, technologically advanced international standard seaports, industrial factories, and export processing zones. This would transform the entire economic region in the future.

If we can bring hydropower from Nepal, it will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. The global community is now very conscious about environmental protection and is prioritising it. If we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and find environmentally friendly alternatives, we will attract even more foreign investment.

In light of the growing demand for electricity in the country, we have emphasised completing the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant on schedule. The Director-General of Rosatom has informed me that the power plant will be inaugurated for trial operations soon.

Our products, the world’s products. These products will go to Nepal, Bhutan, and the Seven Sisters of India. Products from our neighbors will come here and reach across the world. This will make our region a profitable economic zone, and Bangladesh will play a pivotal role in it.

Bangladesh’s biggest problem is rampant corruption. The previous authoritarian government has pushed this corruption to the highest levels in the world. As a result, not only has everything become unbelievably expensive, but the government’s plans, policies, institutional setups, and the responsibilities of government officials—everything written on paper—has become meaningless. The country operates in an unofficial system. The government, businesspeople, industrialists, investors, and all citizens must operate under these unofficial rules.

Citizens have to become skilled in surviving and adapting to this invisible world. To survive and succeed in daily life, they must master a new language. They must quickly translate the spoken words and written texts to understand their real meaning; otherwise, they won’t be able to make everyday decisions. The most challenging part is that there is no dictionary for this language. Its meaning constantly changes depending on the person, place, and situation.

The whole world has understood that we, as a nation, do not carry the identity of integrity. This is not only a national disgrace, but in international business, it is a suicidal issue. Both our citizens and the international community want us to be free of corruption because they want to expand trade and commerce with us. Without eliminating corruption, business and trade will not function. There is no future for Bangladesh without becoming free of corruption.

The interim government is prioritizing making all operations corruption-free. In addition to keeping this government’s tenure free from corruption, we are committed to ensuring that in the future, the citizens of the country remain protected from the corruption supported by the government.

To prevent corruption and harassment, we are focusing on one important issue: ensuring that citizens do not have to physically appear at any government office for daily, monthly, or annual routine tasks. To combat corruption, we have decided to introduce e-filing in all government offices.

Once e-filing is implemented, it will become easier to track which desk in which office has a pending file.

The government is working to launch e-services in all possible areas of government activities. Citizens are often forced to pay unbelievable amounts of money to receive government services. We are determined to save citizens from the hassles of financial transactions and the troubles they face.

We welcome suggestions on how we can further simplify the online service process. Please write to us or email us with your ideas. If anyone in your family wishes to commercially provide these services, they can receive training and offer these services from anywhere in the world.

During the previous government’s time, false cases were used as a tool to suppress dissent. After thorough verification at various levels, we have taken the initiative to withdraw these harassment cases. So far, we have recommended the withdrawal of 6,295 politically motivated cases filed during the fascist government’s tenure. Other harassment cases are being gradually withdrawn as well.

Additionally, 413 cases related to speech offenses under the Cybersecurity Law have been withdrawn. This law will be immediately abolished, and a citizen-friendly Cyber Protection Law will be enacted.

We are also taking legal steps to reduce people’s distress. When filing a General Diary (GD), there is no longer a need to go to the police station to sign. This can now be done online. Necessary instructions have been issued regarding this matter. The Power of Attorney rules have been amended to reduce the harassment of expatriate Bangladeshis. Under the amended rules, Bangladeshi nationals, even without a passport, can complete a Power of Attorney if they have a “No Visa Required” sticker on their passport or a birth certificate or national ID card.

After the government’s decision and necessary measures, the entire process of purchasing airline tickets online has reduced ticket prices by 50% to 75%. This has brought relief to our expatriate brothers and sisters in the Middle East. Additionally, the prices of tickets with other airlines have also dropped.

The government has taken the initiative to digitize land services to provide hassle-free and corruption-free services to citizens. As part of this, the Ministry of Land has launched online services where people can pay land taxes, apply for name registration, collect land records (Khatian), obtain certified copies, and access Mouza maps from the comfort of their homes.

This process will eliminate harassment, opacity, and corruption. Currently, this service is being tested across the country, and it will gradually be improved to become more citizen-friendly and permanent.

The goal is to continuously transfer responsibilities from the government to service providers or organizations. Young people who have completed their schooling in rural areas, housewives, and others will provide these services from their homes, and many will become recognized for their contributions. They will serve customers from across the country right from their village.

Revenue Reforms

According to the recommendations of the National Revenue Commission, a decision has been made to dissolve the National Board of Revenue. In its place, two separate departments will be created: one for policy formulation (National Revenue Policy Board) and the other for implementation (National Revenue Collection Department).

As a result, the opportunity for favored individuals to evade thousands of crores of revenue will no longer exist. I hope that the future governments will maintain this policy.

The Age of Technology and Creativity

This is the age of technology, the age of creativity. Our country, with a population of 170 million, is dominated by the youth. Bangladesh is the 8th largest country in terms of human resources. If this vast young population is given the opportunity to express their creativity, our country will quickly rise to the forefront of the global market, like a flood. The government’s primary goal is to remove the barriers that stand in the way of this huge youth force. Technology is creating opportunities for us, and we are actively working to seize these opportunities at a rapid pace. We are using technology in such a way that citizens can access government services instantly with a simple click, not through government offices.

Passport Reforms

We have already abolished the police verification process for obtaining passports. As a result, citizens are now able to receive passport services more easily than before. After the cancellation of the police report requirement, 70,000 new passports, which had been stuck due to waiting for police reports, have been promptly delivered to applicants.

To further ease the passport application process, we have started issuing electronic passports, making the process faster.

Now, domestic home delivery of e-passports is possible, and we are working to ensure that everyone will be able to receive their passports at home in the future. The enthusiasm and promptness of the officials involved in the passport process have been truly heartening.

Hajj Services

Dear citizens,

Hajj is one of the most spiritually significant journeys for Muslims. People wait a lifetime to undertake this sacred pilgrimage. However, Bangladeshi pilgrims often face various challenges such as language barriers, health risks, overcrowding, administrative complexities, and logistical issues. To make the Hajj experience smoother and safer, the interim government has developed a mobile app that will assist pilgrims before, during, and after their journey.

The app will provide real-time guidance and support in Bengali, ensure financial transactions through government-supported special debit cards in the local currency, and offer baggage tracking to prevent loss.

Pilgrims will be able to get daily details on what to do, reminders for prayers, and historical descriptions of the sacred places they will visit, complete with pictures. They will also be able to contact a call center for any queries and reach a doctor if needed. If pilgrims have suggestions, they can submit them through the app’s feedback page.

All measures have been taken to ensure that the daily hassles of travel do not detract from the main purpose of the pilgrimage.

Starlink and Digital Transformation

Dear citizens,

You may have heard that I spoke on the phone with Elon Musk, the founder of Starlink and owner of SpaceX and Tesla andurged him to start operations in Bangladesh. Accordingly, representatives of the company are now preparing to launch their operations in Bangladesh, with plans to finalize a commercial agreement within the next three months.

With Starlink, low-cost high-speed internet will bring a revolution to Bangladesh’s digital world. Once Starlink services are launched, every village, island, and remote mountainous area in the country will have access to ultra-high-speed internet. In the future, no government will be able to shut down internet services or lock people out of information. Every region of Bangladesh will have access to world-class education, healthcare, and economic participation. Our new generation, no matter where they live, will have the opportunity to become global citizens.

The government has formulated the “Youth Entrepreneur Policy 2025” to empower young people as the main drivers of social, economic, and environmental progress. This policy will assist in creating successful entrepreneurs as a way to achieve sustainable development goals and recognize the contribution of young entrepreneurs to social and economic development.

UN Secretary-General’s Visit

Dear citizens,

Recently, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, visited Bangladesh. Together, we visited the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, where I shared an Iftar meal with 100,000 Rohingya children, adolescents, women, and men who are living in the camps.

In response to our proposal, preparations are underway to hold a separate session on the Rohingya crisis at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Malaysia and Finland have come forward to jointly host this conference. Additionally, I have invited Australia’s former Acting Prime Minister, Julie Bishop, to play a key role in this important meeting, and she has accepted my invitation.

The United Nations Secretary-General has visited Bangladesh and held separate meetings with members of the National Consensus Commission, political party leaders, and young people. In these meetings, everyone shared their dream of building a ‘New Bangladesh’ with the UN Secretary-General.

As you know, the oppression under the fallen dictatorship has been highlighted in the report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In a detailed report, they have conducted a thorough investigation into the repression and killings carried out by the Sheikh Hasina government and the Awami League on students, workers, and the general public in Bangladesh last July-August.

The report clearly states that Sheikh Hasina herself instructed security officers to kill protestors. The previous government, the Awami League, and its allied groups and organisations were involved in coordinated and serious human rights violations. According to the Human Rights High Commissioner’s report, around 1,400 people were killed during the protests, including approximately 13% children. Our July girls, who were at the front lines of the protests, were attacked by security forces and Awami League supporters and were even subjected to sexual abuse.

Reading the United Nations report sent shivers down everyone’s spine. What a horror! How can a Prime Minister order the killing of unarmed people in her own country and then order the concealment of the bodies? In her quest to cling to power, she has surpassed all cruelty, as reflected in the United Nations report.

We welcome this report from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The recommendations made in the report are being carefully considered by the interim government.

I want to assure you all that those who were involved in the genocide, those who carried out indiscriminate killings, and those already recognised as murderers by the world will be prosecuted on our soil.

Dear fellow citizens,

As you know, since the interim government took office, a massive campaign of rumours has been running on the media and social media. Disinformation is being spread to destabilise the country and mislead the public. Rumours are being spread through novel methods. One image is being merged with another, incidents from one picture are being fabricated and passed off as incidents in our country, causing turmoil on social media. As the election approaches, this will become even more dangerous. You all know who is behind this and why it is happening.

We have sought the cooperation of the United Nations to combat the spread of these rumours and false information. The UN Secretary-General has assured us of their support in addressing this issue.

I would like to remind the nation that the first phase of the July Uprising has been successfully concluded. With the conclusion of the first phase, the second phase of the uprising has now begun. We must always remember that we are in a state of war.

“Disinformation” is the most significant weapon of the defeated forces against the July Uprising. Whenever you encounter a rumour, keep searching for its source. Do not ignore it. Many experienced military strategists are working day and night behind these rumours, and vast amounts of money are being invested in them. Their main objective is to make the July Uprising fail. We will not let that happen.

Our collective unity is causing panic among the fleeing forces. They want to break this unity. You may not even realise when you have become a puppet in their game. We must counter these disinformation with awareness and unity. We must thwart the conspiracy of the fleeing evil forces.

Dear fellow citizens,

As you know, the National Consensus Commission has already begun its work. Letters have been sent to 38 political parties along with the full report and 166 recommendations from six reform commissions. Meetings with political parties have already started. The political parties in the country have responded very positively to the reform work and are presenting their opinions. They are informing us which reforms they agree with and which they disagree with. It is very encouraging for our nation that every political party is supporting the reforms.

The process of collecting opinions from all political parties through the Consensus Commission is ongoing. The goal of the commission is to identify the areas where political parties are in agreement and prepare a list of these. The parties that agree will be asked to sign this list. This list will become the July Charter.

It is our duty to present the entire process transparently to the nation and to organise the election after the process is complete.

Regarding the election, I have said this before and I say it again – the election will take place between December of this year and June of next year. We want the upcoming election to be the most free, fair, and acceptable election in the history of Bangladesh. For this, the Election Commission has already begun making all necessary preparations. I hope that political parties will start preparing for the election with great enthusiasm and energy.

Dear citizens,

The women of our country have made significant strides over the years through their long struggles, overcoming many obstacles. Even after 54 years of independence, women in this country are still victims of economic, political, and social inequality.

Among all the movements and struggles in the history of Bangladesh, the participation of women in the July Uprising was the highest. Women played a courageous role in the uprising, pushing aside the old and pledging to establish the foundation of a new Bangladesh. They spoke of extensive reforms and called for strengthening the role of women everywhere.

I believe that the July Uprising has changed the perspective of Bangladesh. After July, we hope that the status of women will improve positively. We want to think anew about Bangladesh, and in this new vision, we want the position of women to be prioritised at the highest level.

Families, neighbours, religious institutions, and schools – I urge all of you to ensure that no discrimination exists between boys and girls in your respective positions. Let us, together, create a healthy environment for children in the New Bangladesh.

Women who participated in the July Uprising are resolute in establishing their rights. We must all work together to identify and address the prevailing inequalities, prevent violence against women, and eliminate discrimination.

We need to build a social movement against those who harbour misogynistic attitudes and tendencies that undermine women. Modern technology has given us the great power to break all barriers, no matter how strong or high they are. We must begin using technology to remove all distances.

A police hotline number has been set up for women’s safety. The government is introducing a short code, and 100% female call-takers are being employed to ensure that women can speak freely.

The law regarding the suppression of violence against women and children has been amended. The time for investigation and trial of these cases has been reduced, and efforts are being made to remove delays in justice. DNA laboratories are being established in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Rajshahi. New judges will soon be appointed through the Special Judicial Service Commission. Separate special tribunals will be established for quick justice for victimised children.

Like everyone else in the country, I am extremely pleased that the women’s football team has become the champion of South Asia. “Youth Festival 2025,” organised across the country, saw participation from 2.7 million girls from various regions in nearly 3,000 games and cultural activities. The festival witnessed universal participation from disadvantaged and privileged regions, marginalised communities, and 21 indigenous youth.

One of the main 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 grow as the nation’s assets. We have announced the celebration of this youth festival throughout the year. I urge everyone to come forward with various creative programs, including boys and girls from every area, school, college, madrasa, and all public and private institutions. I am keenly waiting to learn about how and where it is being celebrated. We will be ready to award the best village, best upazila, best city, best institution, and best individuals at various stages.

Alongside women’s rights, we must also remember the equal importance of the civil rights of minorities and ethnic communities, both in the plains and the hills. If any citizen’s rights are overlooked, it will create a major crisis for the nation. We must ensure that none of us, as citizens, are guilty of depriving another citizen of their rights. Only then will a truly New Bangladesh be born.

Once again, I conclude my speech by sending my greetings to all.

Assalamu Alaikum.

I once again congratulate everyone on Independence Day. May the infinite mercy of Allah be bestowed upon us during the holy month of Ramadan. I pray that Allah accepts the prayers of His servants on this blessed night of Shab-e-Qadr.

At the same time, I wish everyone a joyful Eid Mubarak. During Eid, may you travel to your homes peacefully and joyfully with your family. Visit the graves of your relatives, check on poor families, and think about how to improve their future. Introduce your children to them—this is my wish. I call upon you to remain united and firm in the face of all provocations by defeated forces, despite any differences of opinion during Eid prayers.

May everyone’s life be meaningful and filled with joy.

May Allah help us all.

Allah Hafez.