"I feel like a criminal when standing in front of the relatives of the martyrs," said Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He said countless people have lost their lives, been subjected to enforced disappearance, and faced torture throughout the long democratic movement.
Mirza Fakhrul especially emphasized that the sacrifices of the students, workers, and public during the July movement will remain a deeply painful memory for the nation. It is crucial to remember this history so that these sacrifices are never forgotten.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a seminar titled "July Martyr Journalist Award" held on Sunday (July 19) at the Engineers Institution, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium at Ramna in the capital.
The event was organized by the National Editors Council (NEC) and presided over by the organization's president, Mahmudur Rahman.
The BNP Secretary General said Bangladesh has gained a historic opportunity to build a just and new nation through 15–16 years of anti-autocracy movements, the July student-led mass uprising, and the sacrifices of countless individuals. This opportunity must be fully utilized.
He observed that the path to rebuilding a country is not easy, and deep-rooted problems cannot be resolved overnight. Despite this, there is no reason to be disheartened, as the people of Bangladesh are fully capable of bringing about major transformations.
Mirza Fakhrul observed that a deep-rooted conspiracy is underway to ruin the democratic gains achieved after the July uprising and to trigger chaos in the country. Therefore, all disputes and confusion surrounding the implementation of the July Charter must end, and solutions should be found through dialogue.
The GRD Minister said the people of the country have repeatedly struggled to establish their rights ever since independence. This time too, in continuation of that long movement, a battle has been fought to restore democracy. The movement that began under the leadership of Leader of the Nation Begum Khaleda Zia, followed by the self-sacrifice of the students and the public, has given birth to new dreams and hopes.
Mirza Fakhrul said that a democratic government has been established in the country through elections. It is not possible to eliminate 15 years of looting, destruction, and mismanagement in just a short period of time. However, the work of state reform has begun. Despite some limitations, we must move forward by keeping faith in democratic forces.
END/ASA
