The spirit of the July 2024 mass uprising is a continuation of the ideals of the Liberation War rather than an isolated development, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon said on Saturday.
He said the democratic aspirations, human values, social justice and anti-authoritarian ideals that emerged from the Liberation War were reaffirmed through the sacrifices of the younger generation during the July uprising.
The minister made the remarks while addressing a discussion titled “Remembering July 2024” at the RAOWA Club auditorium in the capital.
The event was organised by the July 24 Martyrs’ Family Association and the Nagorik Kantha Forum.
Swapon said Bangladesh’s people have repeatedly resisted authoritarian tendencies by drawing inspiration from the spirit of the Liberation War.
The July uprising, he said, was the latest reflection of that continued struggle.
Warning against attempts to distort history, the minister said historical truth ultimately prevails despite efforts to alter narratives temporarily.
“Those who tried to use the legacy of the Liberation War to establish one-party rule, inequality or authoritarianism have been rejected by history,” he said.
Referring to attempts after independence to politicise the Liberation War and use the quota system for political purposes, Swapan urged vigilance to ensure that the July uprising is not exploited for vested interests.
He said the achievements of the July movement must be protected from distortion or fragmentation.
While rehabilitating the families of martyrs and those injured in the movement remains a state responsibility, he said preserving the ideals behind their sacrifices is equally important.
The minister described the July uprising as a movement for democracy, dignity and peaceful coexistence among all communities in Bangladesh, including people from the hills and plains as well as different religious groups.
He said politics based on divisions over religion, language, ethnicity or identity contradicts the spirit of July.
Swapon also stressed the importance of democratic debate, saying disagreements should be resolved through discussion and dialogue rather than street confrontation or social media polarisation.
He urged young people to remain alert against misinformation, provocative campaigns and attempts to create artificial divisions online.
The minister said the current government, elected through public votes, was working as an institution responsible for the entire state rather than as a party administration. He added that the government was committed to strengthening democracy by following the ideals of former president Ziaur Rahman and the democratic movement led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
The discussion was chaired by Professor Md Taufiqul Islam (Mithil), president of the Private University Teachers Association of Bangladesh.
Among others, lawmakers Chowdhury Nayab Yusuf and Mahmuda Habiba, North South University Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, and family members of July uprising martyrs addressed the event.
