11-party to hold 36-day prog marking July Uprising

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance has announced a 36-day programme running from 1 July to 5 August, demanding implementation of the public verdict expressed through the referendum and swift trials for killings related to the July uprising.

The programme was finalised at a meeting held Thursday morning at Jamaat-e-Islami’s central office in Dhaka. Alliance coordinator and Jamaat assistant secretary general AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad briefed journalists at the same venue around 12:45pm.

Speaking at the briefing, Azad described the July-August 2024 mass
uprising as a united movement of students and citizens against discrimination, authoritarianism and what he called “fascist rule,” saying more than 1,400 people lost their lives during the movement with countless others injured or permanently disabled.

He alleged the current government has failed to honour pledges made in the aftermath of the uprising, including promises of state reform, justice and the restoration of democracy.

“The July Charter was drawn up on the basis of national consensus and the recommendations of reform commissions, yet no effective steps have been taken for its implementation,” he said.

Azad further alleged the government had abandoned its initiative to form a constitutional reform council, ignoring the public mandate expressed through a referendum.

“This is a betrayal of the nation,” he said, adding that attempts were underway to re-establish authoritarian rule through the parliamentary system.

On justice, he demanded swift completion of trials for killings during the July-August 2024 crackdown, as well as for the 28 October 2006 violence and the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident.

He also criticised the proposed national budget, saying it failed to reflect the interests of ordinary citizens and imposed excessive economic burdens on the public without curbing corruption.

The announced programme includes district and metropolitan-level seminars and graffiti campaigns from 1 to 15 July, protest demonstrations across all districts outside Dhaka on 4 July, and a human chain in front of the National Parliament by families of those killed on 6 July, followed by submission of a memorandum to the Speaker.

A national seminar is scheduled for 8 July.

Divisional rallies will be held in Mymensingh on 27 June, Rangpur on 11 July, Barishal on 18 July and Sylhet on 25 July.

A special discussion on women’s contributions to the uprising is planned for 20 July, followed by photo exhibitions and commemorative gatherings at key sites from 23 to 25 July.

Special prayers will be held at mosques and religious institutions nationwide on 31 July.

The programme will conclude on 5 August with mass rallies at district, metropolitan and upazila levels across the country, including in the capital.

Dr Azad stressed the programme was not a partisan initiative. “This is a movement for democracy, justice, good governance and the rights of the people. We call on citizens from all walks of life to take part,” he said.

The briefing was attended by NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, LDP acting secretary general Billal Miaji, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis senior joint secretary general Ataullah Amin, Labour Party chairman Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Nezame Islam Party senior naib-e-amir Abdul Majed Athari, AB Party joint secretary general Advocate Abdullah Al Mamun Rana, and representatives from Khilafat Majlis, JAGPA and BDP, among others.