DHAKA, JULY 04 (V7N): Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday pledged his government’s unwavering commitment to securing proper state recognition, comprehensive rehabilitation, and long-term socio-economic support for the martyrs and injured survivors of the historic July 2024 Mass Uprising.

Addressing the "July National Conference" at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (formerly the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center) in Agargaon, the Prime Minister emphasized that preserving the revolutionary legacy of the July fighters is a core national priority. The convention, organized jointly by the July '24 Martyrs' Families Society and the Central Executive Committee of Amra July Joddha, marked the second anniversary of the uprising under the slogan, "Bangladesh First."

 

In a deeply personal moment of his speech, the Prime Minister shared an anecdote regarding his late mother, former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, and his late brother. Reflecting on the systemic injustices meted out against his family by the previous regime, Rahman stated that if he were to ask his mother for guidance today, her advice would unequivocally be to reject individual revenge, unify all democracy-loving citizens, and push the nation forward collectively.

While firmly reaffirming that those responsible for the mass killings during the 36 days of unrest will face trial on Bangladeshi soil, the Premier issued a stern warning against vigilantism and judicial manipulation. He maintained that legal procedures must remain completely transparent, balanced, and fair. Even if meticulous adherence to due process extends the timeline of the trials, the state must ensure that another injustice is never committed under the guise of pursuing justice.

Rahman explicitly stated that the historic political transition of August 5, 2024—which forced fascist dictator Sheikh Hasina to flee the country after a 16-year autocratic tenure—does not belong to any single political party or individual. Instead, he categorized the achievement as the hard-won outcome of collective public sacrifices borne by every pro-democracy citizen, student, and ordinary laborer who stood against fascism.

The national conference was marked by highly emotional scenes as bereaved family members of victims walked up to the podium to share harrowing testimonies of their losses.

  • Bereaved Parents: Heart-wrenching statements were delivered by Abdul Rob Mia, father of martyred Miraj Hossain, and Shafiul Alam, father of martyred Wasim from Chattogram, who both broke down while demanding swift accountability for the police forces that riddled their children's chests with bullets.

  • Breadwinner Losses: Abu Hossain, brother of the iconic early uprising martyr Abu Sayeed, underscored the severe financial hardship engulfing families who lost their primary breadwinners, calling on the government to ensure immediate structural welfare.

  • State Memorials: Prime Minister Rahman formally presented commemorative "July Memorial" plaques to several martyrs' families and permanently disabled survivors present at the venue, reassuring them that while their physical and emotional voids can never be truly repaired, their sacrifices successfully shifted the destiny of Bangladesh.

The high-profile memorial event was chaired by Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni. Critical supporting addresses were delivered by a lineup of cabinet members, including Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher, and State Minister for Liberation War Engineer Ishraque Hossain. The conference was also attended by foreign ambassadors, high commissioners, senior civil-military officials, and representatives from various professional guilds.

The July 2024 movement initially broke out as localized student demonstrations demanding the structural reform of the government job quota system before transforming into an irreversible, nationwide anti-autocracy revolution. While official government gazettes initially listed 834 recognized martyrs from the 36-day upheaval, subsequent independent investigations conducted by the United Nations estimated that the actual death toll across the country likely exceeded 1,400 individuals between July 1 and August 15, 2024.

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