Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikrom said the government was elected by the people and should receive necessary respect. He made the remarks on Wednesday as chief guest at a reception and discussion for July martyrs’ families and July fighters at the China Friendship Conference Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. He said the government would bear the consequences of its mistakes but wanted to correct them collectively.

He said the way the event ended was not intended and that a national programme had failed to demonstrate national unity. He also said the situation created in front of foreign guests had harmed the country’s image. The acting president criticised chants of “fake, fake” during speeches at a state function. He cited the prime minister inviting Professor Yunus to sit beside him as an example of showing respect to everyone.

Ahmed said ensuring dignity for injured July fighters, along with their treatment and rehabilitation and the maintenance of families who made sacrifices in July, was the government’s sacred duty. He said the July uprising had created an opportunity to rebuild the state. He described the goal as building a democratic, justice-based and corruption-free Bangladesh where every citizen enjoys equal rights and dignity.