News Flash
DHAKA, Feb 21, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister's Political Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan said today that the people of the country had regained their democratic rights through the February 12 election after being deprived of democratic practices for a long time.
Speaking as the chief guest at the prize distribution and reception ceremony of the 'Election Debate Competition 2026' at the FDCI in Tejgaon, organized by Debate for Democracy, he said the time had now come to rebuild the country.
He said various state institutions had been severely damaged due to politicization, nepotism, corruption, injustice and the appointment of incompetent individuals to key positions.
The newly formed government's commitment to ensuring good governance and accountability reflects a positive beginning toward correcting these problems, he added.
While distributing prizes among the winners, Nazrul Islam Khan emphasized the importance of youth participation in democratic practices. He called on young people to unite and contribute to national reconstruction.
He said it is natural to aspire for the best, but stressed the need to act realistically.
"We want what is very good, we want what is better. This is necessary and normal. But we must try to achieve what is possible considering the reality," he said, adding that implementation cannot be achieved by any single individual and requires collective cooperation.
Highlighting the extent of institutional damage, he said the destruction had surpassed expectations and was the result of politicization, nepotism and corruption. He stressed that overcoming this situation and moving forward was the only option.
Referring to frustration among the youth, he noted that many young people carry pain and disappointment. He said their legitimate aspirations would remain unfulfilled unless everyone worked together to address their concerns.
Drawing on his experience in the labor movement, he said he had endured hardship and was prepared to wait if it meant seeing the country, his colleagues and future generations succeed. He described national rebuilding as an inevitable task that cannot be completed overnight.
Calling the country's large youth population its greatest strength, he said many nations do not have such demographic advantages. If their skills, values and ideas could be properly harnessed, the country would make significant progress. He urged people not to see the population as a burden but to transform it into productive human resources.
Using water management as an example, he said that just as excess water could be conserved and used in times of scarcity through proper planning, national challenges could also be resolved through organized and thoughtful initiatives.
Addressing young people directly, he encouraged them not only to dream but to take active steps toward implementation. He said regret alone is not enough and urged them to make collective efforts to achieve what they rightfully deserve, expressing hope that debates and discussions would help guide the way forward.
