The candid remarks of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Adviser and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir have laid bare an uncomfortable truth. His admission that "nothing has changed" in the country's administrative culture despite the July mass uprising is both a sobering assessment and a wake-up call. Coming from a senior cabinet member and the secretary general of the ruling party, the statement carries extraordinary significance because it reflects the reality that many ordinary citizens have long been experiencing.
Fakhrul's observation that bribery, bureaucratic obstruction and corruption continue unabated suggests that the expectations born out of the July uprising remain largely unfulfilled. Equally disturbing is his comment that many people have simply "changed their colours" and now portray themselves as champions of the July movement without changing their conduct. Such remarks expose how deeply corruption and opportunism have become embedded in the country's political and administrative culture.
His emphasis on changing mindsets is undoubtedly valid. No society can transform unless its citizens, public servants and political leaders embrace integrity, discipline and accountability. His reminder that the sacrifices of those who lost their lives during the July movement should not go in vain deserves serious reflection. Bangladesh paid a heavy price for political change, and those sacrifices must translate into meaningful institutional reforms rather than symbolic rhetoric.
However, the minister's own remarks also raise an unavoidable question: why has the government failed to bring about the changes it promised? If senior ministers themselves acknowledge that corruption and administrative malpractice remain intact months after assuming office, it suggests that there are serious shortcomings in the government's strategies and implementation. Recognising the problem is commendable, but solving it requires decisive action rather than repeated expressions of disappointment.
The government should therefore undertake a thorough review of its policies and governance approach. More importantly, the process of reform must begin within the ruling party itself. Political leaders cannot expect civil servants or ordinary citizens to change if party members continue to display old habits of patronage, favouritism and indiscipline. So far, the BNP has yet to convincingly demonstrate that it has fundamentally changed its political culture or organisational behaviour. The responsibility for setting that example naturally falls first on the party's senior leadership, including Fakhrul himself.
The call for change must also begin from the very core of government. Ministers must establish the highest standards of transparency and accountability in their ministries. Secretaries and senior bureaucrats must be held responsible for ensuring that corruption is not tolerated at any level. Administrative reforms cannot succeed through speeches alone; they require strict enforcement of rules, visible punishment for misconduct and rewards for honesty and efficiency. Leadership by example remains the most powerful instrument for transforming public institutions.
The July uprising inspired millions with the promise of a better Bangladesh founded on justice, honesty and good governance. That promise cannot be fulfilled merely through appeals for societal change. Real transformation must begin with those who hold power today. If the government truly wants to honour the sacrifices of July, it must demonstrate through action that change starts at the top and extends to every level of the state.
