Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon spoke at a discussion at RAOWA Club in the capital’s Mohakhali. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Aug 01, 2026 (BSS)- Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has said the spirit of Bangladesh's 1971 War of Independence and the core philosophy of the July 2024 mass uprising are rooted in the same ideals.

"The July 2024 uprising is the outcome of the enduring spirit of the Great Liberation War and the country's long-standing democratic values," he told a discussion at RAOWA Club in the capital’s Mohakhali.

July 24 Martyrs' Family Association and the Nagorik Kantha Forum jointly organized the discussion titled "Remembering July-2024: Remembering Their Sacrifice, Inspiring Our Future".

Swapon said from the War of Independence onward, whenever authoritarian or fascist tendencies have emerged in Bangladesh, ordinary people have resisted them. 

The anti-autocratic uprising of July–August 2024 saw the reflection of the people’s democratic ideals and aspirations for social justice achieved through the bloodshed of the 1971 Liberation War, he observed.  

“The principal source of the July uprising is our Great Liberation War, and there should be no confusion about that," he said.

Speaking about the consequences of distorting history, the minister said the people have rejected those who attempted to use the achievements of the Liberation War for partisan purposes or turn them into instruments of authoritarianism.

“History ultimately reveals the truth. The July uprising does not belong exclusively to any particular group or political party; it was a movement of people from across Bangladesh's 56,000 square miles—hill and plain, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians alike," he said.

Highlighting the priorities of the elected government formed through the people's mandate, Swapon said ensuring the rehabilitation and medical treatment of those who lost their lives or were injured during the July uprising is not an act of charity, it is the responsibility of the state.

Urging vigilance against those who want to create political instability by spreading provocative content on social media, the minister said the younger generation must remain alert against attempts to undermine the country's democratic environment. 

Members of Parliament Nayab Yusuf Ahmed and Mahmuda Habiba and North South University (NSU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Abdul Hannan Chowdhury were also present with Bangladesh Private University Teachers' Association President Prof Md. Toufiqul Islam Mithil in the chair. 

Family members of those who were killed during the July uprising and individuals injured in the movement shared their memories and experiences in the programme.