Jamaat-e-Islami Criticizes Government Over Lack of State Program for July Uprising Anniversary

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has criticized the government for not announcing a comprehensive state program to mark the second anniversary of the July uprising, accusing it of failing to properly commemorate those killed and injured during the movement.

Speaking at a prayer and remembrance event for those killed and wounded in the July uprising on Wednesday, Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, MP, said the government must officially highlight what he described as the "mass killings" carried out by the Awami League during the unrest.

"If the atrocities committed during the July days are not presented at the state level, people may once again turn to BTV for the government's version of history," Bulbul said.

Although the government announced its observance plans well in advance last year, it has yet to unveil a broader program for this year's anniversary. However, July 16 will be observed as Martyrs' Day and August 5 as Uprising Day. Like Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has not yet announced its official program, although its student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, has declared a 36-day schedule of events.

Addressing a discussion meeting at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh, Bulbul claimed that ignoring the outcome of the referendum was the BNP's "greatest political mistake." He alleged that the party had betrayed 70 percent of the people by failing to take the oath of the Constitutional Reform Council and accused the government of abandoning reform efforts in favor of what he called "the path of the old fascism."

Bulbul also expressed frustration over the suspension of salaries and allowances for employees of the July Memory Foundation. He said the current government had returned to power because of the July uprising but was now betraying the nation by failing to honor its legacy.

"Even though Jamaat is not in power, we have stood beside every family of the martyrs and the injured," he said.

The meeting was chaired by Bulbul and conducted by Dhaka South Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, MP.

Among the speakers was Sheikh Jamal Hasan, father of July martyr Sheikh Mehedi Hasan Junayed, who alleged that the government had failed to uphold the spirit of the July movement by not implementing the referendum's outcome. He warned that another revolution would become inevitable unless meaningful state reforms were carried out.

Mosharraf Hossain, father of slain protester Jihad Hossain, alleged that leaders and activists of the ruling party had repeatedly attempted to shut down his business over extortion demands.

Shahidul Islam, father of Farhan Faiyaz, another victim of the July uprising, claimed the prime minister was being misinformed about the families of those killed.

"We are being portrayed as supporters of the opposition, but we do not belong to any political party," he said.

Also addressing the event were Al-Amin Mir, father of Rezaul Karim; Syed Gaziur Rahman, father of Alif; injured July protester Shah Alam Gazi; and Kamrul Islam. The speakers called for the swift prosecution of those responsible for what they described as crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.