Dhaka: Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon today called for making Jatiya Sangsad the main centre of politics to properly evaluate the bloodstain sacrifices of all democratic movements, including the July Uprising and the 1971 Great Liberation War. 'There is a tendency to artificially take politics out of parliament even today, which is very sad. Making the parliament effective, keeping political debate within the democratic culture and glorifying the political process should be the only criteria for all of us to strengthen democracy," he told a discussion.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) jointly organised the discussion at Jatiya Press Club this morning marking the 2nd anniversary of the July Uprising. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke at the event as the chief guest.
Swapon expressed his concern that even 55 years after the Liberation War, the necessity for people to sacrifice their lives for their right to vote remains a matter of shame and self-criticism. 'However, the people have given their mandate on the basis of the voting right achieved through many sacrifices and movements. Currently, BNP is running the Jatiya Sangsad with a two-thirds majority,' he said. He emphasized that the democracy and parliament, achieved through so much blood and sacrifice, should remain the centre of their political activities.
The information minister lamented the attempts to shift political focus from the parliament to the streets or social media, which he described as detrimental to democratic values. Regarding good governance and the implementation of the July Charter, Swapon asserted that the blood of martyrs is intertwined with every letter of the Charter. Under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's leadership, the current government is committed to implementing this Charter through an elected parliament.
Swapon outlined key priorities for the government, including revitalizing parliament, enhancing the judiciary's stature, safeguarding sovereignty, and creating employment for youth. He remarked, 'Just as we fought for good governance and democracy on the streets from outside power in the past, today, as the ruling party, the Prime Minister, ministers and members of parliament are working to ensure good governance.' He concluded by stating that the sacrifice of the martyrs will only be meaningful when good governance is achieved by uniting all democratic forces.
BFUJ President Obaidur Rahman Shaheen delivered the welcome speech at the discussion, while BFUJ Secretary General Quader Gani Chowdhury presented a keynote paper. The meeting, chaired by DUJ President Md Shahidul Islam and moderated by its General Secretary Khurshid Alam, saw attendance from various notable figures, including Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed, Jatiya Press Club President Hasan Hafiz, and eminent journalist and editor of Dainik Pratidin Bangladesh Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel, among others.