Staff Correspondent

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain on Thursday said that following nearly 15 years of misrule, the democratic process has been restarted in the country through the supreme sacrifices of numerous martyrs, including Abu Sayeed, during the July 2024 revolution.

Paying deep tribute to them on the occasion of July Martyrs' Day 2026, the minister said, "Their sacrifice has granted us the right to live; their sacrifice has brought us liberation. We have been freed from autocracy."

The Health Minister made these remarks as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized at the conference room of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Secretariat to mark 'July Martyrs' Day 2026.'

A one-minute silence was observed at the beginning of the event to honor martyr Abu Sayeed and other martyrs, followed by special prayers for the eternal peace of their departed souls.

Reflecting on the inception of the July movement, the Health Minister noted, "A volcanic eruption does not happen in a single day. Fire breaks out when grievances accumulate over a long time. Similarly, the background of the July movement was paved through 15 years of struggle and movement since 2009 under the leadership of our leader, the current Prime Minister Tarique Rahman."

He added that countless leaders and activists faced brutal oppression during this period. "A certain political party held power for nearly 15 years and perpetrated irregularities, injustice, and oppression. Their conduct was ferocious. They even persecuted the spouse of the Proclaimer of Independence and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, depriving her of proper medical treatment and harassing her in prison.

The Health Minister also reminisced about the glorious Liberation War of 1971. He assured all forms of assistance on behalf of the health ministry for the families of the July martyrs and the injured July warriors.

Presided over by Health Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, the discussion was addressed by Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr. Pravat Chandra Biswas, Additional Secretary of the Health Education and Family Welfare Division Ahsanul Aziz, Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division Khorshed Alam, Joint Secretary Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, and Managing Director of the Community Clinic Trust Fazlullah, among others.

Health Secretary Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said that the background of July did not form in a single day; rather, the misrule that started in 2009 accumulated over time and turned into an explosion. The anti-misrule movement gained massive momentum through the blood shed by Abu Sayeed and Wasif of Chattogram on July 16.