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[🇧🇩] Student Revolution: Lessons from Bangladesh

[🇧🇩] Student Revolution: Lessons from Bangladesh
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JULY UPRISING PROCLAMATION: Political parties suggest draft committee
Staff Correspondent 17 January, 2025, 00:09

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Chief adviser Muhammad Yunus holds a meeting regarding the formulation of the July proclamation with leaders of different political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Thursday. | Focus Bangla photo

Political parties on Thursday urged the interim government to form a committee to prepare the text of the July uprising proclamation on the basis of a consensus through detailed discussion with all anti-fascist forces.

At a meeting with the chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, leaders of the political parties also proposed that the government, based on the consensus, would have to decide whether it would be a proclamation or declaration and what would be its legal significance.

The government held the meeting with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on the draft of the July uprising proclamation.

Most of the political parties and forces in favour of the July uprising, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the Bangladesh Jaamat-e-Islami, the Ganatantra Mancha and the Nagorik Committee, joined the meeting.

Leaders from 14 political parties, including the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and the 12-party alliance, skipped the meeting, citing reasons such as inadequate time, lack of proper preparations, and issues with the invitation process.

Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus told the meeting that the interim government would take the nation forward through unity.

He said, ‘...because the government was born amid unity; it was created through unity. When we work alone and see no one is beside us, we feel a bit weak. And when you all sit together, we get courage in mind that we remain united. We were born amid unity and unity is our strength.’

Yunus said that the government was rejuvenated through unity.

He recalled a moment when the student leaders of the July revolution approached him, expressing their intention to make a declaration—the July Proclamation.

‘I tried to understand what kind of proclamation they were planning. I told them it wouldn’t happen as they envisioned it,’ the chief adviser said.

He advised the students to involve all stakeholders of the July revolution in the process of the preparation of the proclamation.

The chief adviser highlighted that the purpose of the meeting was to finalise the July Proclamation with collective agreement. He stated that if a consensus could not be achieved, there would be no need to announce it.

Following the meeting, BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that they questioned the necessity of announcing the July proclamation five months after the mass uprising.

‘If there is any necessity, we must first determine the political, historical, and legal significance of the declaration so that no division can arise among the anti-fascist forces while preparing the proclamation,’ he said.

If a political document becomes a historical one, the BNP certainly respects that document, Salahuddin said.

The BNP leader said that he discussed at the meeting the significant challenge of moving the nation forward through unity among the anti-fascist forces.

Jaamat secretary general Mia Golam Parwar said that they agreed about the July Proclamation and the document should be prepared based on the opinions from all the parties.

The meeting did not reach a decision on the proclamation, but it resolved to hold further discussions on the issue.

Golam Parwar stated that his party had received a draft of the proclamation from the government but they could not thoroughly review the text due to time constraints.

The meeting discussed forming a committee to prepare an initial version of the proclamation, he said.

All parties will then provide their input on the draft and ultimately, a final version will be prepared, incorporating the chronology of Bangladesh’s history, the Jammat leader said.

Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki said that they discussed the possibility of the announcement of a declaration that would reflect the aspirations of the people and uphold the spirit of the July uprising.

The government will have to determine the nature of the announcement, whether it would be a proclamation or a declaration, and what would be its legal aspects, he said.

Saki said that the meeting decided to form a committee and the committee would prepare a declaration through discussions with all the anti-fascist forces.

At a briefing after the meeting, law adviser Asif Nazrul said that as per the discussion of the meeting further meetings on the July uprising proclamation would take place and a committee might be formed to take the work forward.

He said that all the parties agreed on the formulation of the July Uprising Proclamation and the parties suggested that in essence, everyone’s contribution should be mentioned in the declaration and it should be clarified what the political or legal nature of the declaration will be.

Asif Nazrul said that more emphasis was placed on formulating the declaration through unanimous agreement, achieved by engaging in discussions with political forces, students and the public supporting the July uprising.

‘As much time as necessary can be taken for this process. However, there should be no unnecessary delays or time wastage. Everyone has agreed that such a declaration should be crafted through more intensive discussions, ensuring a consensus,’ he said.

Responding to a question Asif Nazrul said that no distance was created with political parties regarding the July proclamation rather there were merely differing opinions on how this should be done.

‘We see no signs of disagreement; instead, everyone has expressed that this declaration should reflect collective ownership,’ he added.

Earlier on December 30, the government announced that they would prepare the July Uprising Proclamation with a consensus as the Students Against Discrimination decided to announce a proclamation of the uprising at Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on December 31.

Following the government announcement the student leaders turned their programme to ‘March for Unity’ and demanded July proclamation from the government by January 15.​
 
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UN fact-finding report on July-August uprising by mid-February: Volker Türk
He assures full support while meeting Yunus on sidelines of WEF

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Photo: Collected

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk yesterday announced that the UN fact-finding mission report on the atrocities during the July-August uprising is in its final stages and will be released by mid-February.

The high commissioner made these remarks during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, as reported by the press wing of the Chief Adviser's Office.

Volker Türk mentioned that the report would be shared with the Bangladesh side before its publication from the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva.

Yunus expressed gratitude to the UN rights office for investigating the crimes committed during the student-led uprising. He also said that reports from six major independent commissions would be released around the same time, which could serve as complementary sources of information.

During the meeting, Yunus sought Türk's support in resolving the worsening Rohingya crisis, highlighted by the recent influx of tens of thousands of refugees from Myanmar.

Türk assured his full support, noting ongoing discussions with stakeholders, including UN Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop.

Yunus suggested the creation of a UN-overseen safe zone in Myanmar's Rakhine State to prevent further Rohingya displacement. He also referred to the upcoming high-level conference on the Rohingya crisis, emphasising its role in drawing global attention to one of the worst humanitarian crises.

Türk agreed on the importance of the conference in restoring the international community's focus on the Rohingya issue.

The meeting was attended by Lamiya Morshed, SDG Coordinator of the Bangladesh Government, and Tareq Ariful Islam, Bangladesh's Permanent Ambassador to Geneva.​
 
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July Uprising Exhibition: ‘Such event should be organised for next generation too’
Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 26 Jan 2025, 23: 11

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People visit the July Uprising Exhibition at the National Art Gallery of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital’s Segun Bagicha on 26 January 2025. Prothom Alo organised the event, which will end on 31 January.DIpu Malakar

Expatriate Sajjad Hossain, from Sandwaip, Chattogram, was seen standing in the ‘Shaeed Corner’ set up with regular usable items of the martyrs at the July Uprising Exhibition.

He returned home from Portugal in June last year but he was unaware of many big events of the student moment as he was staying home. Eventfully, he learned everything.

Asked on his experience at the exhibition, Sajjad Hossain said he visited the event after learning about it online. “I now regret that I should have brought my family too. Everyone could have learned many things. Many memorable things of the martyrs are giving me goosebumps. Prothom Alo tried to present the event as much as they could.”

Sadia Hasan, from the capital’s Dhamondi, studies A Level. She said, “I learned the entire history in a brief as all important and informative events have been included here. Those who are at a young age, I mean such exhibitions should be held for the next generation too. They should learn how students waged the movement by giving their lives.”

Prothom Alo organised the July Uprising Exhibition at the National Art Gallery of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital’s Segun Bagicha to highlight the events of the July 2024 mass uprising.

The event featuring other arrangements will end on 31 January.

Four students of Mohammadpur Central Colleges were seen looking curiously at various photos at the event.

Asked how they feel, one of them Omar Rafi said, “I saw many pictures taken before 5 August in big frames and it is a different feeling. The lesson of this movement is what students can do if they want. Visiting here, I have felt that time again.”

Wishing anonymity, a female student said, “I thank the organisers for presenting the movement in such a way.”

The ‘Sotto Totthe July (July in true information)’ part of the exhibition includes newspapers and reports; the “Camerai Bidroho (Revolt in camera)’ and “July-Jagorn (July uprising)’ parts features photography; the ‘Roktakto Smarok (Blood souvenir) part displays lethal bullets, rubber bullets, grenade pins, tear shell canisters used by police during the movement; the ‘Abu Sayed: Andolon O Shilper Protik (Abu Sayed: Movement and symbol of art) part features artworks on Abu Sayed by artist Shaeed Kabir, painting equipment and video on artwork makings.

Besides, online reports, interviews and videos published in Prothom Alo during the movement were being screened in two rooms.

Ahamadullah, a senior teacher, was looking at everything at the event. He told Prothom Alo, “It feels good that the timeframe of July-August has been presented well but more pictures on torture of students could be added. Perhaps, those images are not included as they are sensitive.”

Russian citizen Kasparov visited the exhibition in the afternoon. He said, “We mainly came to learn the culture and history of other countries. This movement was a part of your lives and we learned about it too.”​
 
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Sarjis Alam injured in car accident

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Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of Jatiya Nagorik Committee, was injured in a private car accident in Dhaka University area last night.

The accident took place in front of the British Council on Fuller Road on Dhaka University campus around 9:15pm. Later, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for treatment.

Shuvo Howlader, a student of Amar Ekushey Hall of Dhaka University, brought Sarjis Alam to the hospital.

He told Prothom Alo that Sarjis Alam was driving a private car towards Bangla Motor through the Dhaka University campus. As the car approached the British Council, a child suddenly ran into its path. In an attempt to stop abruptly, the car braked hard and crashed into the road divider.

Sarjis had a cut next to his left eye. There was also a minor head injury. He was taken home after first aid.

Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital Police Outpost, said Sarjis received primary treatment at DMCH. The doctor said his injuries were not serious.​
 
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Protesters call off demo near home adviser’s residence

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Photo: Screengrab from Facebook Live

Protesters called off the demo near home adviser's residence early today after assurances from the government.

Earlier, demonstrators marched towards the home adviser's residence with the intent to besiege it, protesting his alleged inaction in preventing attacks on students in Noakhali's Hatiya.

Around 12:30am, the protesters, led by Abdul Hannan Masud, chief organiser of Students Against Discrimination, left Rupayan Tower in Banglamotor for the Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury's residence, breached police barricade and took position near Minto Road.

On Facebook live, he was seen protesting at Banglamotor with a group.

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Photo: Screengrab from Facebook Live

Around 2:45am, Youth and Sports Advisers Asif Mahmud went to the spot to reassure the protesters.

Addressing the crowd, he said, "Law enforcement is better now that what it was previously. We are trying to improve law and order situation in the country. We request you to help us and law enforcers in maintaining peace."

He said he will discuss today's incident in Hatiya with the home adviser. Following this, the protesters left the spot.

Earlier last night, Masud made three Facebook posts starting from 11:00pm, calling students to join him at the protest.

In his first post, he said former MP Mohammad Ali's men have fired at students from his residence at his hometown in Hatiya.

In his second post, Masud wrote, "I am heading to the home affairs adviser's residence and will stay there from 12:30am. They will sleep while Awami League's thugs open fire on students. Those who want to join me, come."

Referring to home adviser's inaction, he said Mohammad Ali's den, full of arms, is right beside the Navy camp in Hatiya.​
 
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