The July mass uprising was not the achievement of any individual, political party or group, said State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Babi Hajjaj. He said the movement was the result of the collective aspirations and participation of people from different professions, social groups and political viewpoints.He made the remarks on Monday while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled “Voices of July: Youth, Resolve and Resistance”, organised by the Canadian University of Bangladesh in Dhaka.Babi Hajjaj said the July uprising should not be viewed merely as a single-issue movement. People took to the streets with different demands, including jobs, democracy, citizens’ rights and protests against injustice. Eventually, he said, these demands converged into a common aspiration for a state and government that would work for the people and ensure their rights and dignity.No one should claim sole ownershipReferring to the way the legacy of the Liberation War was at one point associated with political ownership, the state minister warned against allowing a similar situation to emerge over the July uprising.He urged everyone to remain alert so that no individual or political group could claim exclusive ownership of the movement.Addressing university students, Hajjaj said citizens’ responsibilities do not end with a change of government. Rather, holding the government accountable after it takes office is an even more important responsibility.He urged students to monitor whether elected representatives are working according to public expectations and to question them when necessary.The state minister also said differences in political ideology are normal in a democratic society. However, national and state interests must be placed above the interests of any individual or political party.Chowdhury Zafarullah Sharafat, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Canadian University of Bangladesh, chaired the event.State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur attended the programme as the keynote speaker. Teachers and students from various faculties of the university were also present.
সহজ ও দ্রুত খবরের আপডেট পেতে আমাদের অ্যাপটি ইন্সটল করুন।
