July uprising, Liberation War aspirations to be fulfilled through 31-point plan: Finance Minister

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Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said the aspirations of the July uprising, the Liberation War and the anti-autocracy movement will be fulfilled if the government fully implements BNP’s 31-point programme.

“We have presented a manifesto and must implement it in full. We have given the 31-point programme. If we can implement it completely, the July uprising, the Liberation War and the anti-autocracy movement will attain their true fulfillment,” he said.

The finance minister made the remarks today while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organised at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) as part of the July Mass Uprising Remembrance Programme 2026.

Recalling his experience during the July uprising, Amir Khosru said thousands of leaders and activists spent difficult days in prison. Those detained had limited information about developments in the country during the uprising, he said.

He said news of Sheikh Hasina leaving the country reached the prisoners soon afterwards, triggering a strong reaction inside the jail. When the jail superintendent asked him to help maintain calm, he appealed to the prisoners to remain peaceful, which helped ease the situation.

The finance minister said people’s expectations are now much higher after years of movements, struggles and sacrifices.

He said people had long experienced a lack of voting rights, human rights, the rule of law and economic equality. He also said business and commerce had been concentrated under the patronage of a particular group, limiting ordinary people’s opportunities to participate in economic activities.

Amir Khosru said BNP formulated its manifesto based on these public expectations and outlined plans to establish citizens’ rights and build a “new Bangladesh”.

He said the 31-point programme places particular emphasis on “Bangladesh First” and “democratisation of the economy”.

Explaining “Bangladesh First”, he said its main objective is to prioritise the country’s independence, sovereignty and the interests of its people.

On economic democratisation, he said every citizen should have the opportunity to participate in economic activities and benefit from development.

“Political democracy alone is not enough; democracy must also be established in the economy,” he said.

The finance minister said the government is placing particular importance on the creative economy to bring rural artists, artisans, sportspersons, cultural workers and people from different professions into mainstream economic activities.

He stressed the need for skills development, access to loans, design support and market expansion for people working in these sectors.

He said bringing the sports economy, small entrepreneurs and traditional industries into the mainstream could improve people’s incomes and living standards.

He also highlighted the need to connect traditional rural products such as shital pati and pottery with modern markets.

Describing the economic situation when the government assumed office, Amir Khosru said the country was facing serious challenges in the banking sector, stock market and government financial management.

“We did not start from zero; rather, we started from minus,” he said.

Despite financial constraints, he said the government had undertaken initiatives including the Family Card, Farmer Card and primary healthcare programmes.

The Family Card, he added, would help provide support to low-income families and contribute to improvements in their health, education and nutrition.

Amir Khosru said a comprehensive support system covering citizens from birth to death must be established to realise the spirit of the July uprising.

He stressed the need for effective initiatives to improve the living standards of women, children, workers, persons with disabilities and people from all sections of society.

The finance minister said the true objectives of the July movement would be achieved only when the government fulfils the expectations of the people.

BUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Ekramul Haque chaired the discussion.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque and Dhaka-7 lawmaker Hamidur Rahman Hamid attended the programme as special guests.