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Bangladesh observed July Mass Uprising Day on Wednesday, marking the second anniversary of the student-led uprising that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, 2024. The day was commemorated nationwide through wreath-laying ceremonies, rallies, discussions, cultural events and memorial programmes organised by the government, political parties and socio-cultural organisations.
The day's observance began with tributes at the July Martyrs' Memorial in Shahbagh, where Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, State Minister Ishraq Hossain and people from various walks of life paid homage to those who lost their lives during the uprising.
Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman issued separate messages marking the occasion.
In his message, the Acting President called for building a democratic, accountable, justice-based and discrimination-free Bangladesh in line with the sacrifices and aspirations of those who were killed or injured during the July Mass Uprising. He described August 5, 2024, as the day when united resistance by unarmed students and citizens brought an end to prolonged authoritarian rule and paid tribute to the martyrs and injured participants.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman described August 5 as a day of victory and the restoration of democratic political rights. He said the student-led uprising ended more than a decade and a half of authoritarian rule and represented a historic achievement for the people of Bangladesh.
He also referred to the years of enforced disappearances, killings, political repression, abductions and false cases that, according to his statement, preceded the uprising, saying the sacrifices made during the movement would remain a lasting source of inspiration.
As part of the day's programmes, the Prime Minister inaugurated the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum in Dhaka. Speaking at the ceremony, he said all killings linked to the anti-fascist movement would be investigated and tried through a transparent and credible legal process. He also announced that government institutions across the country would be named after those who were martyred or became victims of enforced disappearance and political violence.
Rahman said the museum should not become a platform for promoting the narrative of any single individual, political party or group, adding that the true heroes of the 2024 uprising were the people of Bangladesh.
A reception and discussion for the families of the martyrs and injured participants was also held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka. Addressing the programme, the Acting President said ensuring the welfare of the martyrs' families and providing treatment and rehabilitation for the injured remained one of the government's most important responsibilities.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) demanded justice for those killed during the uprising, rehabilitation of the injured and exemplary punishment for those responsible.
An exhibition featuring photographs from the July Mass Uprising and earlier democratic movements was held in Gulshan, while newspapers published special supplements and broadcasters aired dedicated programmes marking the anniversary.
Educational institutions across the country organised essay writing, recitation, drawing competitions and discussion sessions. Bangladeshi missions abroad also observed the day through commemorative events.
Special prayers were offered at places of worship nationwide, while major roads and public spaces in Dhaka and other cities were decorated with national flags, banners and lighting displays. Government and private museums remained open free of charge, children were allowed free entry to recreational facilities, and special meals were served at hospitals, prisons, child care centres, rehabilitation facilities and shelters across the country.
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