Govt giving space to anti-July narratives
NCP convener accuses former comrades in government of allowing propaganda and slowing the justice process Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam on Tuesday accused the government of allowing narratives against the July mass uprising to gain ground.
“It is unfortunate that those in the government who were once our comrades are, in one way or another, giving space to these narratives,” he said.
“They are also allowing such voices in the media and have slowed down the trial process,” he added.
Nahid made the remarks as chief guest at a discussion titled “From Resistance to Victory: Legacy of July” at the Siraj Convention Centre in Dhaka’s Aftabnagar.
The event was organised by the Combined Private University Unit of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti.
Nahid alleged that disparaging comments and propaganda on social media about the uprising were part of a planned campaign involving both domestic and foreign forces.
He also claimed that educational institutions were again becoming “havens for violence”, with attempts being made to seize control of campuses and residential halls.
Referring to recent attacks on elected student union leaders at Jagannath University and Chhatra Shakti activists, he urged the government not to confront students.
“Learn from the past. July is not yet in the past; July is the present,” Nahid said.
“Allow students to continue their studies and let a healthy political culture develop at universities,” he added.
Highlighting the role of private university students in the July Uprising, Nahid said there were fears that the movement would lose momentum after Dhaka University and other public universities were closed on July 17, 2024.
However, private university students took to the streets in Dhaka and other parts of the country from the following day and helped sustain the movement, he said.
Nahid claimed that around 26 private university students were killed and 59 others injured during the uprising. He called for their sacrifices to be properly documented and preserved.
He described the July 2024 Uprising as the culmination of several movements over the previous decade, including the 2013 Shapla movement, the anti-VAT movement and the 2018 quota reform and road safety protests.
Referring to the government’s employment pledges, Nahid said young people would closely monitor how far those commitments were fulfilled.
He said job creation was essential to ensure economic security for students and graduates from both public and private universities.
Nahid also urged students to continue protesting against injustice to protect the country’s independence, sovereignty and democracy.
