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to protect languages, culture and social values, include qualified representatives in the party structure, form cultural research institutions, give status to the Tribal Welfare Association as a trust, create opportunities for foreign technical education and training, and provide loan facilities to women entrepreneurs.

Speaking as a special guest at the conference, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “After the long reign of oppression by the monstrous fascist government, we got the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh through a mass uprising. In this new Bangladesh, equal rights of all citizens will be established. My leader and our madam always say the word ‘minority’ cannot be used; we are all Bangladeshis, our rights are equal.”

Mirza Fakhrul further said, “However, we believe that the 31 points formulated under the leadership of Tarique Rahman are the key to the future politics of Bangladesh. This includes the idea of Rainbow Bangladesh. We want to build a true Rainbow State by including small ethnic groups.”