The Jamaat-backed interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, issued a message under the name of President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday, where he said the fascist roots must be uprooted, and the spirit of July be fully realised to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh.
The president has been under house arrest since the August 5 changeover last year. He attended several state programmes during that time but was restricted from meeting anyone other than the government representatives and some army officials.
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Several advisers to the interim government, as well as leaders of Yunusโ National Citizen Party (NCP) have demanded his expulsion after he told a newspaper that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not resign on August 5.
It was later found that the interim government was formed through forgery and defying the constitutional provisions.
Meanwhile, the government has revised the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) Act to try Sheikh Hasina, the Awami Leagueโs top leadership, and former government officials for crimes against humanity, including the killing of protesters by the security forces.
However, many politicians of the NCP, BNP, Jamaat-Shibir and Hefazat have said publicly that they took up arms, killed the police and Awami League supporters, and looted and torched government offices.
While the government and the NCP are celebrating one year of the capture of power and have announced various benefits for the deceased protesters and those injured, there have been criticisms at home and abroad about the gross flaws in the lists, massive corruption and extortion, false and fictitious cases being filed, and arbitrary detention of the Awami League leaders, activists, and supporters as revenge.
What is in the statement?
“The July Uprising was an outburst of the youth and the masses against longstanding deprivation, misrule, corruption, looting, enforced disappearances, killings, abductions, the denial of voting rights and all forms of oppression and tyranny,” said the statement, according to The Daily Star.
The core aim of the July uprising was to dismantle this discriminatory fascist system, restore democracy, empower the people, and ensure freedom of expression, he added.
The president expressed the hope that the aspirations of the July uprising will be reflected in the reform process and a new Bangladesh based on justice and equality will emerge through a true democratic transition.
“Today is the historic July Uprising Day. On this day in 2024, students, workers, and the people united in collective resistance against the discriminatory state system and fascist misrule and achieved a decisive victory,” said the president.
He extended his greetings and congratulations to the freedom-loving students and people of the country.
He also paid deep homage to all the martyrs of the July Uprising who made the ultimate sacrifice in the struggle to free the country from authoritarian misrule.
He prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed souls.
“I remember with profound gratitude the sacrifices and contributions of all the brave July fighters who were injured, became disabled, or lost their eyesight in the uprising,” said President Shahabuddin.
He said ensuring justice for the families of the martyrs and the injured is a sacred responsibility of the state. The state remains committed to fulfilling this responsibility, he added.
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