A year after July uprising, experts warn Bangladesh lags in equitable development
The concerns were expressed during a dialogue organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) held today
Urban planners and experts have warned that a year after the July mass uprising, which erupted as a protest against inequality, Bangladesh has made little progress in ensuring equitable development across its regions.
The concerns were expressed during a dialogue organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) titled "July Mass Uprising: Expectations and Achievements in Building an Equitable and Planned Bangladesh", held today (20 August).
Presiding over the event, BIP President Professor Dr. Adil Muhammad Khan said the uprising's aspirations were stifled by the collusion of the military-civil bureaucracy, vested business interests, and controlled media.
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"Policy planning, including Dhaka's Detailed Area Plan, continues to favour business groups over public welfare, sustainable development, and environmental protection," he said.
Experts pointed out that inequality remains entrenched in the country's politics, economy, and social systems. Director of Press Institute of Bangladesh, Faruk Wasif, said the government has struggled to fulfill its promises, and citizens share responsibility in pushing for meaningful reform.
BUET Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abdul Hasib Chowdhury said, "Many mass uprisings have occurred, but no political uprising has succeeded in eradicating inequality from unearned wealth."
The dialogue also underscored the profound personal suffering caused by the uprising. Shamsi Ara Zaman, mother of martyred journalist Tahir Zaman Priyo, voiced anguish over the painfully slow delivery of justice, urging sustained efforts to create a fair, transparent, and accountable Bangladesh.
Architect Farhan Sharmin added a poignant observation, noting that 80–90% of those injured and treated in government hospitals came from the country's most vulnerable families, yet they continue to face inadequate rehabilitation and medical support.
Journalist Zahidul Islam observed that 'professional fascism' persists, citing Dhaka's DAP reforms as an example, where urban planning prioritises building heights over livability and equitable access to services.
Jahangirnagar University History Professor Golam Rabbani noted that many students who participated in the uprising later exploited their involvement for personal gain, while injured and disabled participants received little government attention.
Participants, including students, planners, professionals, university faculty, and journalists, called for stronger commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and people-centred development policies to ensure the uprising's goals are not forgotten.
