Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has announced a 36-day programme to mark the second anniversary of the July uprising, under the theme “The pledge of July, building a just Bangladesh.”
The organisation’s president, Nurul Islam, announced the programme at a news conference at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen on Monday.
The programme — announced in the name of upholding the aspirations of the July uprising, building the Bangladesh the martyrs dreamed of, and demanding implementation of the ‘July charter’ — includes a month-long series of protest marches and rallies under the title “Indomitable July” demanding full implementation of the referendum verdict and the July charter and the trial of the killings; the publication of stories, novels, research papers and periodicals on the bloody July; and an exhibition in the capital titled “The July awakening through children’s eyes.”
Other programmes include a “July awakening” documentary-film competition and awards; seminars, symposiums, research conferences, discussions and prayer events; and photo and documentary exhibitions and cultural evenings under the theme “The pledge of July, building a just Bangladesh” at educational institutions and public places nationwide.
Further programmes include memoir-telling, memoir-writing, speech, essay and debate competitions; the establishment of libraries in the martyrs’ names in each district; a “July martyrs’ memory” sports competition; interviews and podcasts titled “Red July” with martyrs’ families, the wounded and participants; visits to the martyrs’ graves and meetings with their families; July graffiti drawing; and a 36-day online campaign titled “Echoes of July.”
The announced programmes will be implemented down to the grassroots under the supervision of all of Chhatra Shibir’s university, metropolitan and district units, the organisation said.
In the written statement, central president Nurul Islam paid deep respect to the martyrs of July-August 2024 — including Abu Sayed, Ali Rayhan, Mugdho, Wasim, Shanto and Sharif Osman Hadi — and to all the heroic martyrs, the wounded and the participating fighters. He strongly demanded that the government swiftly conclude the trials of those who killed the martyrs.
Sharply criticising the present government, Chhatra Shibir said it was, in its lust for power, ignoring the ‘July national charter’ formed on the basis of consensus among political parties, and the mandate of the referendum. It alleged that collaborators of fascism were being rehabilitated in the administration, and that the ordinance issued to form an independent judiciary had been cancelled, turning the judiciary into a party-subservient institution.
Describing what he called economic and social anarchy, the central president said 59 percent of the present government’s members of parliament were loan defaulters, putting the state at risk of bankruptcy. He added that, according to TIB and police data, 915 murders and 209 rapes had occurred across the country in the first 100 days of the government’s formation, amid a sharply deteriorating law-and-order situation.
Expressing deep concern over the situation on campuses, he said one of the aspirations of the July uprising had been to establish terror-free campuses, but the ruling-party organisation Chhatra Dal was now repeating savage violence on campuses, with open attacks on ordinary students, teachers and Chhatra Shibir activists at various polytechnic institutes, universities and colleges.
The Shibir president called on everyone to unite to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh and not to let the gains of the uprising fail before the power-hungry ambitions of any self-interested group, and sought the cooperation of Shibir’s members, students and the public in making the 36-day programme a success. The news conference, conducted by secretary general Sibgatullah, was also attended by central office secretary Azizur Rahman Azad, media secretary Mu’tasim Billah Shahedi, publications secretary Amirul Islam, and publicity secretary and DUCSU GS SM Farhad, among other leaders.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report