Local government minister and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, "Those who used to take bribes are now thinking of taking bribes. Similarly, those who used to block a good work are still blocking it. People are changing their minds. People who changed their stripes have now become more July fighters."
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on the occasion of July Uprising Day held at the Information Building Auditorium in the Circuit House area of the capital on Thursday.
Mirza Fakhrul expressed regret over the huge sacrifices made by the people in the July Uprising unfortunately didn’t able to initiate desired changes yet in the state and administration through the subsequent elections. Speaking about his experience of serving as the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives after the formation of the government, he said, ‘I see that nothing has changed.’
The BNP Secretary General said, “I am saying this with regret. I am saying this with regret because I am very old. I really wanted to see the change this time. So far, I have not seen it among us.”
The local government minister also said that not only the government or political leadership, but the mindset of every person in society needs to change. Otherwise, the sacrifices of July will not bring the desired results.
The BNP Secretary General said, “He is optimistic. This is because he is seeing change in a person. He is Tarique Rahman. He is trying, and setting new examples. If those examples can be taken forward together, then maybe the change will happen. That is why everyone needs to support the Prime Minister.”
Mirza Fakhrul said, “The history of Bangladesh is basically a history of change— From the Language Movement, the Liberation War to the July 2024 Uprising. People have had to sacrifice their lives for every change. The July Movement, led by the youth, initially started with a specific demand. Later, it took the form of a movement to change the state and society. Many young people lost their lives in that movement. Numerous families are bearing the pain of losing their children. The value of this sacrifice will be meaningful only when real change is established in the state and society.”
The cover of the publication of the Directorate of Information was unveiled at this event. A photography exhibition was inaugurated. At the beginning of the discussion meeting, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the martyrs of the July Uprising, along with prayers and supplications.
FP/R
