Staff Correspondent: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Adviser, Advocate Moazzem Hossain Alal, has called for renaming the Bangladesh Secretariat as the “Ministry Building”, arguing that the current title misrepresents the authority structure within the government.

Speaking as the chief guest at a roundtable titled ‘July Uprising: A Great Awakening towards Democratic Transition’, hosted by the Bangladesh Secretariat Journalists Association (JABS) at the National Press Club on Sunday.

“We all know the building as the Secretariat, but it should be called the Ministry Building. Secretaries are not the heads — ministers are. So, why call it Secretariat? The name must reflect the real power structure,” he argued.

He further criticised the linguistic disparity in housing terminology, stating that residences for ordinary citizens and politicians are called “basha” (homes), while government officials’ accommodations are termed “bashbhobon” or “residences.”

“DIG’s residence, SP’s residence, government quarters — these are all symbolic of hierarchical disparity. This inequality must end,” he added.

BNP Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon noted that the July uprising was not to pave the way for reforms under the PR (Proportional Representation) system.

“People sacrificed their lives for democratic voting, not for engineered outcomes. We’ll welcome whoever wins in a fair election,” he said.

Advocate Dr Helal Uddin, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South, emphasised unity, stating that the July victory was collective, belonging to students and the people.

Ahmed Ishaq, central organiser of Jubo Shokti, the youth wing of Jatiya Nagorik Party, said the country still hasn’t fully broken free from authoritarianism.

“Partisanship still prevails. Incidents like the killing of Sohag in Mitford prove the state is not yet neutral. We must come out of this,” he warned.

The roundtable was presided over by JEBS President Riazur Rahman Riaz and moderated by General Secretary Nizam Uddin Darbesh.

Other speakers included BNP leaders ABM Mosharraf Hossain, Mir Sarafat Ali Sapu, AKM Mozammel Haque, Barrister Maruf Hossain, Israfi Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Abul Kalam Azad.

Also present were JEBS Vice President Nure Alam Borshon, Organising Secretary Rumazzal Hossain Rubel, Office Secretary Ahsan Kamrul, and journalists Zakir Hossain, Fakhrul Islam, SM Tajul Islam, Shaharul Islam Rocky, Md Mehedi Hasan, Mizanur Rahman Hawlader, Khalil Mridha, and Akand SMA Asad from Ziaur Rahman Foundation.