Student Against Discrimination is set to announce its July uprising proclamation at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Tuesday.
However, the exclusion of the Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Shibir, and most left-wing student political organizations has raised questions about the initiative of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
These excluded student organizations allege that they were not consulted about the proclamation. Their leaders suspect the initiative has political motives.
Although the Jamaat-e-Islami has welcomed the initiative, its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, expressed dissatisfaction over their exclusion from discussions.
Similarly, the Chhatra Dal and leading left-wing student organizations criticized their exclusion, viewing it as an attempt to sectarianize the July uprising under a single group.
Nasir Uddin Nasir, general secretary of the Chhatra Dal, told Dhaka Tribune: “It is unfortunate that suddenly an announcement has come for the so-called Proclamation of the July Revolution within five months of the formation of the government, which has maintained constitutional continuity. A special group is recklessly attempting to claim ownership of the historic student mass upsurge for their political ambitions by bringing forward this manifesto of the revolution.
“They are now in power—against whom will they make a revolution from a position of power? We believe this move is a suicidal step against Dr Yunus's government. It will create confusion in the international community about the legitimacy of the current government through unnecessary declarations. Behind this proclamation lies the agenda of the defeated forces of 1971, seeking to manipulate history for political gains.”
Meanwhile, Md Monzurul Islam, president of Chhatra Shibir, expressed similar concerns. "The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement platform did not engage with us regarding the proclamation. It appears that the platform is pursuing a special agenda through this initiative."
He continued: "As a platform, they were involved in the uprising and have the right to act. However, as political organizations are also stakeholders in this revolution, prior consultation was necessary. If the public accepts the announcement, we will welcome it. If not, we will reject it.”
Rageeb Nayeem, president of the Bangladesh Chhatra Union, voiced stronger criticism, saying: “The movement has excluded every stakeholder of the uprising. Their motive seems to be sectarianizing the July uprising through this proclamation.
"Such actions could even provoke civil unrest. This is not the appropriate time for such an announcement. The proclamation should not be the work of a few coordinators from the movement without the involvement of all stakeholders.”
Meanwhile, Dilip Roy, president of Biplobi Chhatra Maitree, and Jabir Ahmed Jubel, the organization’s general secretary, released a statement condemning the proclamation, which said: “The historic July uprising in Bangladesh was not the result of a single party or group. It was a collective effort of all anti-fascist political parties, individuals, and groups in the country.
"However, five months later, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee are attempting to monopolize it as their personal property, denying the participation of the people and all political parties. Without consulting all stakeholders of the July uprising, the student movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee's December 31 program is an attempt to claim themselves as the sole force behind the uprising.
"This undermines the mass ownership and fundamental spirit of the uprising. The July uprising is not owned by a single group; it symbolized the unity of anti-fascist forces. Those trying to exploit this for personal or partisan gains are betraying history and the people. Furthermore, this program appears to be a prelude to the election campaign of the student movement's fictional political party.”
The Samajtantrik Chhatra Front echoed these concerns in a press release. “The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement is a platform that brings together people of diverse ideologies. However, all stakeholders should have been consulted before making decisions on important matters. Unfortunately, it has failed to consult student organizations and other stakeholders, making decisions through an undemocratic process that contradicts the spirit of a mass uprising.”