Summary:
- Students Against Discrimination will formally declare the July mass uprising as a revolution on December 31, 2024, at 3:00 PM at Central Shaheed Minar, marking a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
- The proclamation will document critical events spanning 15 years, from the quota reform movement to Sheikh Hasina’s departure, including BDR mutiny, Shapla Chattar crackdown, and extrajudicial killings.
- The declaration aims to establish a framework for a discrimination-free country and will serve as both a written acknowledgment of the revolution and its manifesto, challenging the existing constitution.
- The Students Against Discrimination and Jatiya Nagorik Committee plan to launch a political party by February, with the proclamation symbolizing a transition from what they describe as fascism towards democracy.
The Students Against Discrimination will formally proclaim the July mass uprising as a revolution on December 31 at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka, marking a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
The proclamation aims to establish a framework for a discrimination-free country and will serve as both a written acknowledgment of the revolution and its manifesto. The event, scheduled for 3:00 PM, will be attended by leaders of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee and families of those martyred during the uprising.
Hasnat Abdullah, convener of Students Against Discrimination, emphasized the proclamation’s importance in a Facebook post: “To save my existence, your existence, and to transform our movement into a true revolution, this proclamation is essential.”
The declaration will document crucial events from the quota reform movement to Sheikh Hasina’s departure, addressing critical incidents spanning 15 years, including the BDR mutiny, Shapla Chattar crackdown, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.
The July Revolution, which began as a quota reform protest on July 1, 2024, evolved into a nationwide uprising resulting in over 1,500 deaths and 18,000 injuries. The movement culminated in the resignation of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, who subsequently fled to India.
Tuhin Khan, a member of the Jatiyo Nagorik Committee, explained: “This proclamation symbolizes a shift from fascism towards democracy, similar to the transitions from monarchy to democracy in France and Spain. However, it will also involve redefining secularism and reconciling conflicting ideologies within the nation’s context.”
The Students Against Discrimination and Jatiya Nagorik Committee, formed in September, plan to launch a political party by February. The proclamation is expected to challenge the existing constitution and propose amendments reflecting the ideals of the July revolution.
Umama Fatema, spokesperson for the platform, stated: “The proclamation will serve as a documentary testament to the mass uprising. It will highlight how the quota reform movement evolved into a revolution and why people laid down their lives.”
The event represents a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s political history, potentially reshaping the country’s governance structure and constitutional framework.
Source: The Daily Star
