Minister links 1990 and 2024 democratic movements together
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan today said July uprising in 2024 and the anti-autocracy movement of 1990 must be evaluated together to fully understand the history of Bangladesh's democratic movements.
“The two movements are part of the same stream of democratic struggle; and two sides of the same coin,” he said.
The Minister made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion on "Tarique Rahman's Vision for Future's Bangladesh" at National Press Club today.
Swapan said, among the major political changes in Bangladesh's history since the Liberation War, the anti-autocracy movement of 1990 and the July uprising in 2024 are the most discussed.
He claimed that after the death of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, there was a conspiracy to prolong military rule, and a vested quarter supported that process at the time.
“Those who fear the people's verdict, elections, democracy, and parliamentary politics are the ones who repeatedly seek paths of conspiracy outside the democratic process,” added the minister.
Swapan further said that the greatest achievement of the 1990 uprising was the establishment of a neutral caretaker government system and ensuring free and fair elections.
Through that movement, Begum Khaleda Zia transformed from an ordinary housewife into a national leader and later became the people's elected Prime Minister, he said.
Referring to the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the Minister said that just like Begum Khaleda Zia received spontaneous public support in 1991, Tarique Rahman has also garnered widespread public support in 2026. The movement of 1990 and the July movement are part of the same democratic course.
Swapan said those who only talk about the July uprising but deny the importance of the 1990 movement are not presenting the full picture of the history. He called on everyone to speak out against the distortion of the history.
Accurate history must be presented across the country and the true narrative of democratic movements must be focused before the new generation, he said.
The Minister further mentioned that the central theme of all movements in Bangladesh is one ‘Sobar Agge Bangladesh.’
The Language Movement, 1969 uprising, great Liberation War, 1990 movement, and July uprising- all are historic chronicles Bangladesh democratic journey, the minister said.
