Govt to Build Shackle-Free Democratic Institutions: Info Minister

The government is committed to building a "shackle-free democratic institution" to ensure the state is never hijacked again Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said on Thursday.

Speaking at the Secretariat during the launch of the book 'Shackle-Breaking July' Swapan stated that the recent July Uprising successfully broke the chains of fascism. He noted that despite Bangladesh being over 55 years old citizens' rights have been repeatedly suppressed costing lives and disrupting national progress.

Highlighting the uniqueness of the 2024 mass uprising Swapan explained that past movements often lacked direction and inadvertently paved the way for new authoritarianism. He claimed that even during the 1971 Liberation War political indecision required Major Ziaur Rahman to step forward and declare independence.

In contrast, he emphasized that the 2024 uprising was guided by a clear vision: the 31-point state reform outline previously presented by Tarique Rahman. "It is not possible to deliver the fruits of this blood-soaked victory using the old system. That is why we prioritize repairing the state structure and politics" the minister added.

Also speaking at the event State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yaser Khan Chowdhury shared that 'Shackle-Breaking July' features contributions from 23 authors. The compilation uses photographs and essays to preserve the history and emotions of the uprising. He also announced that more documentaries and publications focusing on the July events are in the pipeline.