"In my five months of ministerial experience, I see that nothing has changed in the country. Those who used to take bribes are still taking them. Therefore, we must bring true change to the state and society by upholding the spirit of the July uprising," he remarked.

The minister made these bold observations while addressing a discussion meeting as the chief guest at the DFP Auditorium in the capital's Circuit House on Thursday.

Upholding the "Spirit of July"

Reflecting on the recent mass uprising, Mirza Fakhrul emphasized the necessity of honoring the sacrifices made by the youth.

"Talking about July naturally creates a heavy heart. To me, the core issue is that we want change. A heavy price had to be paid for the transformation we see today," he stated. "If we fail to internalize the value of this sacrifice and do not strive for genuine change, then the tears of the mothers and the blood of the July martyrs will have been shed in vain. I am saying these words with immense pain."

He recalled his past frustrations regarding youth participation in politics: "When we agitated against fascism and held grand rallies, I used to forcefully ask—where are the youth? Where are the young people who will bring change? But miraculously, in July '24, those young people took to the streets. It started with their own demands and eventually evolved into a movement to topple the government."

The "Chemistry of Power" and Praising the Prime Minister

The BNP Secretary General critically addressed the psychological shift that often accompanies political power.

"The most notable historical fact is that whenever change had to be discussed in this country, lives had to be sacrificed—from the Language Movement right up to July '24. When we assume power, I feel there is a certain 'chemistry' to the chair. That chemistry forces you to start thinking differently. The students wanted to dismantle this very system," he observed.

However, Fakhrul noted a singular exception within the current administration. "I see change in one person, and that is our Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman. He is genuinely trying and setting new precedents. If we can collectively carry those examples forward, I believe real change is possible."

Stagnation vs. Global Progress

Drawing historical and economic parallels, the LGRD minister expressed regret over Bangladesh's lack of proportionate development.

"We gained independence in 1971 through a bloody war. But unfortunately, since then, we have had to sing the same song—we want change," he lamented. "It is our misfortune that 55 years have passed since independence. China's emergence is from roughly the same era, and nearby Singapore's timeline is similar. Look at where their economic development and standards of living have reached, while we are still stuck here."

Notable Attendees

The discussion event brought together several prominent figures from the media and civil administration. Among the notable attendees who also addressed the gathering were:

• Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel: Editor, Protidiner Bangladesh

• Justice AKM Abdul Hakim: Chairman, Bangladesh Press Council

• Dr. Chowdhury Saima Ferdous: Member, Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC)

• Hasan Hafiz: President, National Press Club

• Kader Gani Chowdhury: Secretary General, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ)

• Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho: Brother of July uprising martyr Mir Mugdho