Dr. Ziauddin Hyder :
The July Revolution of 2024 was not merely the toppling of a regime; it was the collective declaration of a people who refused to be ruled by fear, repression, and the whims of one person. It was a democratic uprising against authoritarianism, but more importantly, it was a demand for a complete overhaul of the system, a demand to repair the broken state. Now that the shackles have been broken, we must ensure that the new Bangladesh is built on strong, accountable, and people-centered institutions. This begins with investing in the most vital resource of any nation-its people.
Under the bold leadership of Tarique Rahman, the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the 31-point state reform agenda has placed human capital development at the very core of a reimagined Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman’s vision moves beyond the façade of flashy infrastructure that once masked a broken system. He has made an unambiguous commitment to rebuilding the nation through investment in health, nutrition, and education-not as privileges dispensed by the powerful, but as rights guaranteed to every citizen. His pledge is clear: to establish institutions that function, systems that serve, and governance that truly listens to the people.
No Citizen Should Die Without Treatment
One of the most shameful legacies of the past regime was the normalisation of suffering in our health system. Millions of Bangladeshis were pushed into poverty each year due to out-of-pocket health costs, while undertrained health workers struggled in broken facilities, and marginalised populations in urban and rural areas were abandoned by the state. This must never be repeated. The BNP has pledged that no person in Bangladesh will die before receiving quality treatment-a powerful commitment that must now be institutionalised.
This means addressing governance challenges and increasing transparency and efficiency at all levels of the health sector, establishing a nationwide referral system that begins with strong primary health care, and building a digital health platform that ensures every citizen has access to a unique health ID and electronic medical records. Upazila and District-level hospitals must be modernized, medical education depoliticised, and drug regulation enforced with integrity. Above all, health must be treated not as a commodity but as a public good – delivered with compassion, equity, and urgency.
No Youth Should Be Left Behind
For too long, our education system has churned out degrees that do not translate into jobs. The tragedy of young people dropping out of school and then being shut out of the job market is not just a policy failure, it is a moral one. Under the new vision, the term “dropout” will be sent to the museum of history. Every child and youth must find a pathway-be it academic, technical, or entrepreneurial-based on their interests, potential, and the demands of the economy.
To achieve this, the education system must be restructured from the ground up. A need-based and market-aligned education track should begin from grade 8, allowing students to explore technical, vocational, or entrepreneurial pathways without stigma. Digital literacy, financial skills, and at least one foreign language must be integrated at the secondary level. Partnerships with industries, business associations, and the diaspora must guide curriculum reform, apprenticeships, and job placement. Education must be free from partisan control, guided by professionals, and governed by a single standard of quality-regardless of whether one studies in a madrasa, a government school, or a private institution.
No Child Should Grow Up Stunted
Stunting is not just a health issue; it is a national crisis. A stunted child is a stunted nation. Despite progress in some areas, nearly one-third of Bangladeshi children still suffer from chronic undernutrition-a reflection of poor maternal health, inadequate diets, poor sanitation, and broken delivery systems. This is unacceptable.
The July Revolution must now translate into a nutrition revolution. Every pregnant woman must receive proper antenatal care, iron and folic acid supplements, and education on feeding and hygiene. Community-based health and nutrition workers must be professionalised, supported, and expanded. Safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions must be integrated into health and education plans. Conditional cash transfers linked to maternal and child health outcomes can help poor families make the right choices. And schools must be transformed into platforms for nutrition and hygiene education – from school meals to clean toilets.
Institutionalising Hope
The goal is not charity but justice. The reforms we envision are not acts of benevolence – they are the foundation of a modern, inclusive, and resilient state. No more should we rely on the decisions of one person to determine the fate of millions. The people of Bangladesh have spoken: they want strong institutions, professional leadership, and a government that serves, not rules.
Let the July Revolution be remembered not only for what it ended-but for what it began. A new social contract. A new era of dignity, opportunity, and fairness. An era where no citizen dies untreated, no youth is left behind, and no child is condemned to a life of disadvantage before it even begins.
The time to build that Bangladesh is now. And this time, we build it together.
(The writer is Adviser to the Chairperson, Bangladesh Nationalist Party and former Senior Health and Nutrition Specialist, World Bank)
