BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed -File Photo

DHAKA, Oct 23, 2025 (BSS)- BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has said the main lesson and message of the July Uprising is 'change'.

"Change is the main message of the July Uprising is change. We must build a Bangladesh based on merit, knowledge, and technology in all sectors. Regardless of the social stratum we work in, we must work with a sense of social accountability," he said.

Salahuddin said this while addressing a seminar titled 'Education and Employment in the Thoughts of Youths in Post Uprising Bangladesh' here today.

University Teachers' Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) arranged the seminar at the Zahur Hossain Hall of the National Press Club.

UTAB President Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam presided over the seminar while VC of Stamford University Professor Dr. Akhtar Hossain Khan, Former Pro-VC of Dhaka University Professor AFM Yusuf Haidar, Convener of the BNP Media Cell Professor Dr. Maudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel, Professor Dr. Morshed Hasan Khan General Secretary of UTAB, Adviser to the Acting Chairman of BNP Mahdi Amin and Former Chief of Staff for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Rehan A. Asad spoke at the event. 

Professor Dr. SM Hafizur Rahman and Professor Shah Md. Shamim Ahmed of the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University presented the keynote paper.
   
Professor Dr. Abul Kalam Sarkar, Member Secretary of the seminar organizing committee, moderated the programme and convener of the seminar organizing committee Dr. SM Sohag Awal gave vote of thanks.

Salahuddin Ahmed said, "The change we anticipate after the July Uprising must be all-encompassing. The change in perspective is not solely for the discriminatory employment system or job creation. That uprising was an expression of public outrage against 15-16 years of fascist rule. Consequently, the anti-government movement swiftly intensified based on the 'one-point demand,' culminating in the mass uprising through mass struggle, fight, and bloodshed."

Stressing that nothing can be achieved without our mental reform, the veteran BNP leader said, "No matter how many reforms we introduce, mental reform must come first. Otherwise, regardless of the reforms we speak of, we won't be able to convert them into law. The nation will achieve freedom only if we can bring about strong legal transformation of our democratic and constitutional institutions."

Salahuddin further said, "The idea of a university is that of an institution for research and the practice of free thinking. We must strengthen a sector-based research-oriented education system so that we can take it to the global level through research. We must determine a job-oriented and timely curriculum."

"We must definitely create employment for our population. In this regard, we should not solely depend on the government. Instead, we must become self-reliant and create employment through our own initiatives," he added.

In his welcome speech, UTAB General Secretary Dr. Morshed said, "Our party BNP believes that there is no alternative to education for nation-building. However, education must be fully employment-oriented and up-to-date. Over the past few decades, we've seen an education system solely focused on certificates, which has only increased unemployment. In the new Bangladesh following the July Uprising, the youth should think about a knowledge-based and demand-driven education."

In his presidential address, UTAB President Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam said, "The indifference of the previous government has raised various questions about the quality of education in Bangladesh. Therefore, there is no alternative but to restructure our education system. We must get rid of the negative reputation surrounding our international standing. We must remove the clutter of the last 17 years and save education."

VC of RUET Prof Dr. SM Abdur Razzak, Pro-VCs of National University Prof Lutfor Rahman and Prof Nurul Islam, Treasurer of Bangladesh Open University Prof Dr. Abul Hasnat Md. Shamim, Prof Dr. Abdul Karim, Prof Dr. Abdus Salam, Prof Dr. Md. Iqbal, Prof Dr. Abdul Karim, Prof Shamsul Alam, Prof Dr. Shabirul Islam Howladar, Prof Khairul Islam, and other UTAB leaders were present in the seminar.