BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince has said that the BNP aims to build a "rainbow nation" in Bangladesh, inclusive of all religions, castes, ethnicities, communities, political views, and beliefs. He stated that this inclusive approach will pave the way for a positive and united Bangladesh.
Speaking at a community meeting with representatives of the Garo community, held on Friday afternoon in Haluaghat, Mymensingh, Prince invited indigenous and ethnic minorities, including the Garo people, to join the movement led by Tarique Rahman to build a modern and inclusive Bangladesh while preserving their heritage.
Prince emphasised that regardless of religion, language, culture, or clan, all citizens are Bangladeshi. He criticised the post-independence Awami League government for promoting a Bengali-centric nationalism that ignored the existence of diverse languages, cultures, and ethnic minorities, which he claimed contributed to the rise of separatist movements in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In contrast, President Ziaur Rahman had later introduced a more inclusive form of Bangladeshi nationalism, recognising all communities.
He further criticised the Awami League for misinterpreting this inclusive ideology, causing confusion among religious and ethnic minorities. "The BNP is not a party for any specific religion or ethnicity," he said. "It belongs to all communities living in Bangladesh."
Prince promised that a future BNP government would establish a separate authority within the state administration to address the issues of ethnic minorities, as envisioned by Begum Khaleda Zia in her Vision 2030. He also committed to establishing a dedicated museum or cultural centre in Haluaghat to preserve and showcase the history and heritage of the Garo people.
The meeting, held at Imex Hotel in Haluaghat town, was chaired by Haluaghat Tribal Association Chairman Subrata Rema. Several BNP leaders and Garo community representatives also spoke at the event.
