He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Teachers' Association on the occasion of 'July Mass Uprising 2024' at the BUET Council Building on Tuesday (August 4).
The information minister said remembering the glorious saga of movements and struggles alone is not enough. Rather, a state must be built by removing the causes of those struggles, where future generations will not have to shed blood again to establish democracy.
He said the nation has had to move forward time and again through movements, struggles and bloodshed before and after independence. This proves that even after a long time, a stable, just and humane state system has not been established in the country. As a result, every generation has had to launch new struggles for democracy, rights and justice.
Zahir Uddin Swapan said the martyrs' sacrifice should not be taken as a matter of self-satisfaction, but rather as a lesson of a harsh reality. The most important task now is to deeply analyze why the state has repeatedly had to face such a situation and ensure a permanent solution.
He further said that due to structural limitations of the state, many talented people do not get the opportunity to contribute according to their ability. Changing this reality should also be one of the lessons of the July mass uprising.
Referring to democracy's foundation depending on strong institutions, the information minister said democracy is not sustainable unless effective balance, accountability and constitutional dignity of parliament, judiciary, executive and legislature are ensured. If strong democratic institutions cannot be built even after the recent sacrifice, deeper research and self-criticism regarding the state's socio-economic structure and political culture will be necessary.
He urged teachers to present events like history, the Liberation War and the July mass uprising before the new generation through research, analysis and logical discussion in addition to emotion.
The event was chaired by Professor Muhammad Anisuzzaman Talukder, president of the BUET Teachers' Association, and BUET Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Muhammad Shariful Islam was present as the special guest. Former BUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hasib Chowdhury and Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering Professor Md. Abdul Jalil also spoke.
