Jamaat-e-Islami Amir and parliamentary opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said any attempt to distort or erase the history of the July Revolution would be resisted with public support.
“If a counter-campaign to make people forget July has begun, then, with trust in Almighty Allah, we will resist it together with the people of the country,” he said.
Rahman made the remarks Tuesday, Aug. 4, as chief guest at the launch of the book July Revolution 2024 in the Context of the Struggle for Freedom at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka.
He said the July movement had no single “mastermind.” People from different classes and professions, including students, young people, children and other members of the public, risked their lives to take part, and their collective sacrifice made the movement successful, he said.
Rahman said the responsibilities of the state and society toward the families of those killed and people who were injured or left with disabilities in the movement had not ended. He said his colleagues visited hospitals during the movement to support the injured and urged those responsible for their care not to neglect treatment.
Recalling visits to several injured people receiving treatment in Bangkok, Thailand, he said doctors had told some of them they would not be able to return to normal life. The state must take responsibility for them, he said.
Rahman called for preserving an accurate history of the July Revolution’s contributions and sacrifices. No one’s role should be concealed, and an authoritative and accurate history should be written so future generations can learn what happened, he said.
He said Bangladesh had yet to compile a complete list of all those killed in 1971, even 55 years after independence. The same mistake should not be repeated for the July 2024 Revolution, he said, calling for the state to preserve an accurate list of those killed, injured and involved.
The Jamaat chief alleged that political leaders’ rhetoric had changed since the July Revolution and that the shift had become more evident after Feb. 12, 2026.
He also said many earlier promises were being forgotten and a new narrative was being constructed.
Referring to the July Declaration, Rahman said the prime minister had announced in Parliament that it would be published by Aug. 5. He expressed disappointment that there had been no visible progress.
“The people’s verdict is supreme in a democratic state,” Rahman said. “There is no scope to go beyond that verdict. The people’s rights and aspirations must not be betrayed.”
Addressing the government, he said, “Please do not lay hands on the July fighters. The blood of those whose sacrifice brought today’s change must not be shed again. Any attack on their eyes, limbs or lives would be an act of extreme ingratitude.”
Rahman said Jamaat-e-Islami was ready to support national unity when required for the country’s broader interests, but it would not compromise by surrendering people’s fundamental rights.
“If the country and its people need us, we will stand beside them with everything we have,” he said. “Jail, Aynaghar detention cells or the threat of death cannot deter us. We will continue our struggle in Bangladesh’s interests.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report