Prime Minister's Adviser and spokesperson Mahdi Amin on Friday said the government's authority is derived from the people and that protecting human rights, the rule of law and freedom of expression under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman remains its foremost priority.
Speaking at the Bengal Delta Conference-2026 at Hotel InterContinental in the capital, Mahdi said the current government assumed office through a free, fair and credible election and is committed to strengthening democratic institutions and safeguarding citizens' rights.
The conference was organised by the Dhaka Institute of Research and Analytics (DIRA).
Mahdi alleged that the BNP was the principal victim of political repression during the previous 16 years of what he described as authoritarian rule, citing enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, custodial deaths and politically motivated cases.
However, he said the crackdown was not limited to a single political party, claiming that all pro-democracy political forces and many citizens from different walks of life who spoke out against the then government were subjected to repression.
Referring to enforced disappearances, Mahdi said not only political leaders but also individuals with no political affiliation had fallen victim to such incidents. While some victims eventually returned, he noted that many others remain missing.
He claimed that thousands of people had been killed in alleged extrajudicial incidents or died in custody over the years, adding that more than 700 victims of enforced disappearance have yet to return.
Mahdi said the government recognises the suffering of families who lost loved ones and is committed to ensuring justice for victims.
He also referred to the personal experiences of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, saying his family had endured political persecution and human rights violations, which, according to him, gives the prime minister a deep understanding of the pain experienced by victims' families.
The adviser further claimed that the current Home Minister and many members of the cabinet, lawmakers and political activists had themselves experienced enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention or politically motivated legal cases.
According to Mahdi, the present administration represents a major departure from the governance system of the past decade and a half, arguing that state institutions previously functioned to sustain an authoritarian regime rather than protect citizens' rights.
He said the government had effectively pressed a "reset button" following the political transition and adopted a clear reform agenda centred on empowering citizens, restoring the rule of law, protecting human rights and ensuring freedom of expression.
Mahdi asserted that during the government's first five months in office, there had been no incidents of human rights violations, political repression, custodial deaths or enforced disappearances to the best of the government's knowledge, expressing hope that this record would continue.
He said the government seeks to end the culture of political vengeance while ensuring accountability for those responsible for serious human rights violations committed under the previous administration.
"Our objective is clear—no perpetrator should escape justice, while no innocent person should be deprived of the right to live freely in a democratic country," he said.
Mahdi also said the government is pursuing a policy of reconciliation and social harmony following the fall of the previous administration, recalling that democratic political parties led by the BNP had worked to maintain peace and order during the period when the country remained without a government from August 5 to August 8.
Looking ahead, he said the government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's leadership will continue to prioritise the protection of human rights, the rule of law and freedom of expression, alongside efforts to empower women and young people and promote inclusive and balanced development that benefits all citizens.