Country, people will be my only priority: President

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has pledged to discharge his responsibilities as head of state in a completely non-partisan manner, saying the interests of the country and its people will remain his sole priority.

“I resigned from my party, parliament and the Cabinet before assuming the presidency. I am now completely non-partisan and will continue to perform my duties accordingly,” he said.

The president made the remarks at his first Durbar with officials and employees of Bangabhaban at the Durbar Hall on Thursday (August 27).

He said he would have no personal bias, favour or resentment toward anyone while serving as president, stressing that safeguarding the interests of the state and its citizens would guide his decisions.

He also underscored the importance of earning public trust through honesty, integrity, sincerity and a strong sense of responsibility.

Addressing Bangabhaban officials and employees, the president urged them to maintain love, respect and loyalty toward the country and its people and to perform their duties with dedication and integrity.

Describing Bangabhaban as a symbol of state dignity and national sovereignty, he called on officials and employees to preserve its history, traditions and institutional prestige.

He also stressed strict confidentiality in handling Bangabhaban’s day-to-day affairs and matters related to major state decisions, warning that any breach could undermine national security.

The president called for prudent use of public funds, greater fiscal responsibility and measures to prevent waste.

“Government property and facilities are maintained with taxpayers’ money. Therefore, their use must be responsible, transparent and accountable,” he said.

He urged officials and employees to maintain discipline in their personal and professional lives while working to strengthen their moral values and character.

The president paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during the 1971 Liberation War. He also recalled with respect the contributions and sacrifices of former president Ziaur Rahman, whom he described as the “proclaimer of independence,” and former prime minister Khaleda Zia in the post-war nation- and state-building process.

He also paid tribute to all previous presidents of Bangladesh.

Calling the Bangabhaban workforce “one family”, the president said he hoped to work collectively with everyone and resolve workplace problems through dialogue whenever opportunities arose.

He expressed hope that officials and employees would continue working together in the future to uphold the dignity of the presidency and serve the country and its people.