Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon today said the historic July Uprising has created an unprecedented opportunity to establish and institutionalize true democratic values and structures in the country.
“A rare opportunity has emerged in Bangladesh today to structurally shape and institutionalize democratic values through a series of transformations—uprising, sacrifices, a spontaneous election, government formation, and an active parliament,” he said.
The minister made the remarks while addressing as the chief guest a discussion titled “July Uprising and Bangladesh’s Democratic Transition,” organized by the Dhaka University Debating Society (DUDS) at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of the university this evening.
Swapon urged all democratic forces and the young generation to embrace the deep responsibility bestowed by the martyrs of the July movement, warning against self-complacency, stardom-seeking mindsets on digital platforms, or attempts to monopolize the credit of a popular revolution.
“The martyrs have drawn a roadmap for our future with their lives. To walk that path, we must overcome frivolity and frivolous tendencies. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has rightly stated that the sole credit for this triumph belongs to the people, the people, and the people,” he added.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to building an effective parliamentary system, the information minister noted that a functional parliament is the main core for narrowing down non-democratic practices.
He expressed optimism that all pro-democracy allies would utilize the parliamentary platform rather than reverting to street-level misgivings.
Highlighting the historic continuity of Bangladesh’s struggle for dignity, equality, and rights, Swapon stressed that the spirit of the 1971 War of Liberation, the 1990 anti-autocracy movement, and the July Uprising are interconnected chapters of the nation’s democratic evolution.
“If anyone thinks that history begins only from now and tries to erase the past, they will fail to understand the complete Bangladesh. To comprehend the full canvas of Bangladesh, one must understand both our thousand-year history and the nation defined by its red and green flag,” he said.
