Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said that good governance relies on learning from history and consistently applying its lessons.
“Government would consistently uphold and practise the lessons drawn from history,” he stated while speaking as the chief guest at the unveiling and publication ceremony of the book Firey Dekha Shei Shomoy (Revisiting Those Times), authored by Debate for Democracy chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron. The event was held at the CIRDAP Conference Centre in Dhaka.
The minister emphasised that a state can progress on the right path only by learning from past experiences. While revisiting the past is a natural human tendency, documenting those memories and presenting them as guidance for future generations is equally important, he added.
“This book analyses the political and social contexts of the 10th, 11th, and 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections, helping readers understand the country’s recent political realities. The 10th parliamentary election was widely described both at home and abroad as one-sided, particularly due to uncontested victories in 151 constituencies, raising questions about electoral acceptability when a large segment of voters does not participate,” he said.
Speaking on the 11th parliamentary election, Zahir Uddin Swapan referred to it as the “midnight vote". He claimed that, as a candidate, he was confined to his residence for one month and ten days, with security personnel stationed outside, night-time patrols conducted, and political activists arrested during the period.
He further noted that major opposition parties also did not participate in the 12th parliamentary election. Attempts were made to create competition by fielding rival candidates from within the same party, but in reality nearly 90 per cent of voters did not cast their ballots.
According to the minister, such elections are unsustainable in the long term, and people eventually take a stand against them. He said the mass uprising of 5 August 2024 reflected this reality.
He added that studying these chapters of political history can guide future leadership in the right direction and expressed hope that a future election system will be established that earns public confidence.
The event was chaired by Syed Abdal Ahmed, former general secretary of the National Press Club and publisher of the book.
Among others, National Press Club President and poet Hasan Hafiz; Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury; Daily Jugantor Editor and poet Abdul Hai Shikder; Bangladesh Open University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Siddiqur Rahman Khan; and Banglavision Editor-in-Chief and Head of News Dr Abdul Hai Siddique spoke at the ceremony.
The book compiles 38 previously published articles, including A Blood-Stained Charter of Change, Politics of Arrests and Shackles, City Elections: Verdict Against Misrule, Humanity in Crisis and Public Expectations, and Voting Rights and Democracy.
It also republishes writings highlighting issues such as uncontested elections, alleged electoral irregularities, enforced disappearances and killings, lawsuits and crackdowns, stock market scandals, bank looting, loan fraud, tender manipulation, recruitment and admission irregularities, question paper leaks, bribery, and corruption during the Awami League government period.
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