Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman said the July revolution remains unfinished and must be completed. He made the remarks on Sunday as chief guest at the first session of the Bangladesh Conference at the Institute of Diploma Engineers auditorium in the capital. The discussion was titled “July Revolution and Bangladesh-oriented Thought: Theoretical Perspective.” He described the revolution as an ongoing process.

Rahman said weakness in the rural economy has pushed people toward Dhaka in search of employment, making the capital unsuitable for living. He called for increased employment in agriculture and maximum priority for the production sector. Strengthening agriculture, he said, would keep the rural economy active and reduce migration to Dhaka driven by a lack of work.

He also said agriculture and manufacturing are essential to expanding employment and strengthening the economy. Citing Vietnam’s per capita income of more than $5,000, he said Bangladesh should first aim to reach Vietnam’s position. In the keynote paper, Professor Dr. Md. Saidul Islam proposed an integrated state philosophy combining Bangladesh’s history, Islamic ethics, modern democracy and the spirit of the July revolution, calling it Bangladesh-oriented thought.