Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said the 2024 July Uprising was a “volcanic explosion” of public anger that had been building for years against authoritarian rule.
Speaking at a discussion meeting organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Secretariat to mark July Mass Uprising Day-2026, the minister described the uprising as a unique milestone in the country’s history.
He said the July movement stood alongside major national events such as the 1952 Language Movement, the 1969 Mass Uprising, the 1971 Liberation War and the 1990 anti-autocracy movement.
Sakhawat said the uprising did not emerge overnight but was the result of grievances that had accumulated since 2009 over what he described as repression, enforced disappearances, killings, corruption, money laundering and political persecution under the previous government.
“The anger that had been building in people’s hearts finally erupted like a volcano in July,” he said.
The minister said the way young people took to the streets and built resistance was rare in world history. He added that the nation would always remember with respect those who were martyred or lost their eyesight and limbs during the uprising.
Commitment to reform
Sakhawat Hossain said the government had taken an oath to build a corruption-free Health Ministry, with ensuring quality healthcare services for ordinary citizens as its main priority.
He also warned of what he described as continuing threats to national stability, saying that although authoritarian rule had fallen, its associates remained active.
He alleged that they were conspiring with foreign forces against Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty and existence, and urged people to remain united to protect the country.
‘Culture of fear’
Health Secretary Md Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said the previous regime had created a “culture of fear” by establishing control over the judiciary, law enforcement agencies and administration.
He said enforced disappearances, killings and political persecution were used as tools to maintain power.
“The July movement was the people’s manifestation against fascism,” he said, adding that people wanted a representative government based on good governance.
The secretary said the ministry would work with honesty and fairness to serve the people.
Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Prabhat Chandra Biswas, Director General of the Directorate General of Medical Education Professor Nazmul Hossain, Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division Md Khorshed Alam, Additional Secretary of the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division SM Ahsanul Aziz, Director General of the Directorate General of Family Planning Jinnat Rehana and other senior officials attended the programme.
