Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that steps will be taken to make the country’s ethnic minority communities self-reliant through SME loans and training.
He made the remarks at an exchange meeting organised by the Jatiyatabadi Khudro Jatigoshthi Dal at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan on Tuesday afternoon.
Mirza Fakhrul urged members of ethnic groups not to consider themselves isolated but as an integral part of the nation. He also stressed the need to preserve unity among these communities, warning that growing conflict and violence around the world make it even more important to maintain harmony.
He said the government would identify the problems faced by ethnic communities and take steps to address them. “These ethnic groups are the sons of the soil and an integral part of the country,” he said, adding that the government would consider forming a separate fund for their development.
Expressing hope for greater political inclusion, the minister said a representative from ethnic minority communities could be elected to a reserved women’s seat in parliament.
He also announced plans to organise a large gathering of ethnic communities in Dhaka in September-October this year in the presence of the prime minister, aiming to promote a spirit of harmony and inclusiveness.
The meeting was chaired by Mrigen Hagidak, president of the Jatiyatabadi Khudro Jatigoshthi Dal. Among others present were Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Bijon Kanti Sarkar, and Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince.
