Info Minister calls for restoring parliament as main center of politics

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has called for restoring the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) as the country's principal platform for political debate, saying the institution should embody the democratic aspirations forged through the July Uprising, the Liberation War and other historic movements.

Speaking at a discussion marking the second anniversary of the July Uprising at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday (August 3), Swapon said strengthening parliamentary democracy is essential to honour the sacrifices made in Bangladesh's struggle for democratic rights.

The event was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ).

Swapon said there remains a tendency to shift political discourse away from Parliament, describing the trend as detrimental to democratic practice.

"Our priority should be to strengthen Parliament, ensure political debates take place within democratic institutions, and reinforce institutional politics," he said.

The minister noted that it was a matter of national reflection if, more than five decades after independence, citizens still had to sacrifice their lives to secure their voting rights. He added that the people's democratic mandate, earned through prolonged struggle and sacrifice, now forms the foundation of the current Parliament.

He stressed that the legislature must become the country's central political institution in order to consolidate democracy achieved through years of public resistance and bloodshed.

Swapon also warned that misinformation, abusive content and coordinated disinformation campaigns on social media are undermining the democratic environment.

Referring to the implementation of the July Charter, he said the government remains committed to fulfilling every pledge contained in the document as a tribute to those who lost their lives during the movement.

He identified full implementation of the charter through the elected Parliament, strengthening judicial independence, safeguarding national sovereignty and creating employment opportunities for young people as key priorities of the government.

Swapon added that the administration is pursuing the same democratic and governance reforms it once demanded while in opposition, arguing that unity among democratic forces and stronger institutions are essential to preserving the legacy of those who sacrificed for the country's democratic future.

The programme was attended by Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, alongside leaders of journalist organisations, senior media professionals and officials from the Department of Information.