Staff Reporter:
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Broadcasting Dr Zahed Ur Rahman yesterday said the gov-ernment is implementing a series of initiatives to ensure the spirit and legacy of the July Mass Uprising remain alive in the national consciousness.
“The government is implementing coordinated initiatives so that July is remembered not merely as a commemorative month, but remains permanently embedded in the national consciousness,” he told a press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID) at the Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday.
He said the initiatives are aimed at ensuring that the younger generation learns the history, sacrifices and democratic spirit of the July Mass Uprising correctly.
The adviser said the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will observe July Martyrs’ Day on July 16 through various programs.
As part of the observance, tributes will be paid at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Rayerbazar in the morning. The foundation stone of a memorial dedicated to Abu Sayed will also be laid on the road adjacent to Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, followed by a discussion.
Describing July 16 as a turning point in the movement, Dr Zahed said the deaths of the first protesters on that day gave new momentum to the movement, which later transformed into a mass uprising.
“The nation will never forget the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives. The state owes them a debt,” he said.
He said the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, alongside the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, will implement month-long programmes marking July, adding that details of the initiatives will be announced to the media in phases.
Replying to a question about the political activities of the Awami League, the adviser said the issue is linked to the judicial process.
“The investigation and trial are ongoing. The court will make the final decision. However, the events of July and the realities of that period will be documented and presented before the people to preserve his-tory,” he said.
Seeking the media’s support, the adviser said the government wants to ensure that accurate information on its development and public welfare initiatives reaches the people.
He also called on the mainstream media to play a responsible role in countering misleading information circulating on social media.
During the briefing, the adviser highlighted the major activities and initiatives undertaken by different ministries of the government.
