Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government is working to build Bangladesh as a democratic, inclusive and exploitation-free state. Speaking as chief guest at the opening of the Bengal Delta Conference 2026 in Dhaka on Friday, he said strengthening democratic institutions, rebuilding the economy and improving living standards are the government’s main goals.

He said student-public movements, aspirations to restore democracy and expectations of political change had opened new possibilities for the country. He paid tribute to those killed and who struggled in the 1971 Liberation War, as well as people who died in the 2024 movement for restoring democracy. Citing global conflict, economic instability, corruption, money laundering and irregularities as pressures on the economy, he referred to measures on investment, jobs, banking and the rural economy. He also said efforts were under way to build broad consensus on constitutional reform through discussions with political parties.